UConn Football links

Early Week 1 look-ahead: Connecticut [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

Let’s Discuss The (ND) Pros And Cons For 20th Time [Desmond Conner | UCONN Football]

ND Wants To Play In NY? [Desmond Conner | UCONN Football]

When Do You Tell ND Bye And Is Zach A Leader? [Desmond Conner | UCONN Football]

UConn-ND Appealing To Fairfield County Fans? [Desmond Conner | UCONN Football]

Can UConn Do Better OOC Consistently Than ND? [Desmond Conner | UCONN Football]

There’s A Request In For JH To Talk About ND [Desmond Conner | UCONN Football]

New technology can be doube-edged sword [Rivals.com]

Brockton’s Lopes to play in all-star football game in New Jersey [The Enterprise]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Moore gets cut [Jim Fuller – UConn Women’s Basketball]

Promises, promises. [Alysa Auriemma]

Jamelle Elliott names her first Bearcat staff [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Jessica Moore cut by LA Sparks [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Jamelle’s Staff Is Complete [Rich Elliott – UConn Women’s Basketball]

New Script For Ex-Husky Montgomery [Hartford Courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

2009-10 Huskies [Mike Anthony – UConn Men’s Basketball]

NBA Draft Measurements [Mike Anthony – UConn Men’s Basketball]

NBA Draft Prediction: Thabeet to Memphis or Oklahoma City [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Other UConn related links

Women’s Ice Hockey Announces 2009-10 Team Captains [UConnHuskies.com]

Women’s Lacrosse: Michele Earns Spot on IWLCA/Under Armour North-South Senior All-Star Roster [UConnHuskies.com]

Fenway Park had been very kind to the Boston Red Sox this season. They had also won their last 8 games against the Texas Rangers there as well. But Kevin Millwood and Ian Kinsler made sure that changed tonight.

Millwood threw seven strong innings and Kinsler hit a 3-run homer to help the Rangers to a 5-1 win over the Red Sox in front of 37,519 on a rainy night for baseball at the Fens.

The loss for the Red Sox (32-23) drops them to a 1/2 game behind the now first place in the AL East New York Yankees who were rained out. It also ends a 4-game winning streak. The Rangers improve to 32-22 and stay 3 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West.

Brad Penny started this one for the Red Sox and looked the best he’s been all year for four innings. Then things went south for him in the 5th. He went 5 2/3 innings, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5.

The Red Sox bullpen was rock solid once again.

Daniel Bard struck out 2 in 1 1/3 innings while Manny Delcarmen was perfect in his inning. Takashi Saito worked the 9th and allowed a hit while striking out 1.

Millwood allowed 1 run (unearned) on 7 hits and 4 walks while recording 5 strikeouts. Everyday Eddie Guardardo struck out 1 in his inning of work while Darren O’Day walked one and struck out 1 in the 9th.

J.D. Drew was an on-base machine tonight as he was 2-for-3 with 2 walks. Jason Bay, Mike Lowell, David Ortiz, Jason Varitek and Jacoby Ellsbury had the other hits for the Red Sox tonight with Big Papi driving in the only run.

The Red Sox stranded three base runners in the first two innings and left two more on in the 3rd.

Dustin Pedroia lined out to left and Drew reached on an infield single. After Kevin Youkilis flew out to right, Bay stroked a double to deep left with Drew stopping at third. They were both left stranded there as Lowell grounded out to third.

Through the first four innings, Penny had allowed a first inning walk to Hank Blalock and infield single to Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the 3rd. Things changed though in the 5th.

Continue reading →

The best line of Friday night goes to Boston Red Sox NESN analyst Jim Rice when he said this:

“My wife told me I am the only brother shes knows that doesn’t have any rhythm.”

He was referring to the dancing they were doing in the studio tonight.

[youtube width=”480″ height=”295″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdJqFM9x7DM[/youtube]

NESN’s Kathryn Tappen helps us get to know Boston Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay.

Video courtesy of NESN

Great profile on Boston Red Sox pitcher Justin Masterson that was shown before the game tonight on the pregame show.

Video courtesy of NESN

After spending the past 11 days on the road, the Boston Red Sox return home to the friendly confines of Fenway Park for a 6-game homestand that begins tonight with the Texas Rangers, weather permitting of course. The Red Sox have won their last 8 games at Fenway over the Rangers.

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 Rangers television market, you can catch the game on FOX Sports Southwest. 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.

Brad Penny gets the ball from Terry Francona tonight and looks to keep up his run of quality starts for the Red Sox. In 10 starts this season, he is 5-1 with a 5.63 ERA. He has faced the Rangers just twice in his career and is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA. A win tonight for Penny would be the 100th in his career as he is 99-76 in 259 games (255 starts).

Kevin Millwood starts for the surprising Rangers who sit atop the AL West right now. In 11 starts this season, he is 4-4 with a 3.23 ERA. Millwood has faced the Red Sox 12 times in his career and is 4-4 with a 4.46 ERA. In 7 starts at Fenway Park, Millwood is 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA.

Here’s the afternoon weather update from the Red Sox about tonight’s game:

The current weather forecast, provided by the Red Sox’ private weather service Meteorlogix, calls for rain showers to move through the Fenway area during the late afternoon and evening hours. At this point in time, the specific timing and duration of these showers are uncertain.

The Fenway Park gates will open at the regularly scheduled time of 5:10 p.m., and the Red Sox are hopeful that tonight’s game will be played.

Eckersley on Dale & Holley: ‘I didn’t realize you can’t talk no-no’ [WEEI.com]

Bay won’t get worked up, he’ll just keep working [FOXSports.com]

Sources: Braves eyeing Penny [Buster Olney – ESPN The Mag]

Opposing Thoughts: Rangers taking new approach with pitching [NESN.com]

Red Sox accustomed to finding diamonds in the draft [NESN.com]

Transcript of World Record live chat [38 Pitches]

Some quick hits … [Extra Bases]

Francona: Eye check no big deal [Extra Bases]

Epstein: Ortiz’ vision tested well this spring [WEEI.com]

Red Sox embrace picking late in Draft[RedSox.com]

Hangin’ With Torii and Big Papi [Center Field]

Here are the starting lineups for tonight’s game.

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

The Boston Red Sox ended an 11-day, 10-game road trip yesterday with a come-from-behind 6-3 win over the Detroit Tigers. They finished up that trip at 6-4 and are tied for 1st in the AL East with their hated rivals to the south, the New York Yankees.

Other than a rough go of things in the 2nd inning, Tim Wakefield looked pretty good yesterday. He’s been the Red Sox most consistent pitcher this season and if it weren’t for him and the bullpen, the Red Sox probably wouldn’t be tied for 1st right now.

Over the latter part of the road trip, the starting pitching has really started to come together. And with the new look lineup producing, if both of them can stay hot over this homestand, it help push the Red Sox back to the top. Since Terry Francona switched the lineup, the Red Sox are 4-0 and are outscoring their opponents 29-11.

As the old saying goes, if ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

A wild afternoon in Detroit [Providence Journal]

Heading for home on a winning note [Boston Globe]

Red Sox’ trip flips with rotation [Boston Herald]

Tim Wakefield continues to anchor a suddenly rejuvenated Red Sox rotation [Providence Journal]

Ortiz still looking for an answer [Boston Globe]

Kevin Youkilis hurting [Boston Herald]

Youkilis’ status uncertain after he leaves game with a calf injury related to being stepped on Wednesday [Providence Journal]

Jones knows empty feeling [Boston Globe]

David Ortiz plans to see eye doctor for help [Boston Herald]

Laird says he understands why Beckett hit him Wednesday [Providence Journal]

It’s hard to watch [Boston Globe]

Tim Wakefield does his thing [Boston Herald]

Drew hits his 200th homer . . . and no one knows it [Providence Journal]

NESN, Sox go dark [Boston Herald]

It’s A Nuggetpalooza Friday! [Nuggetpalooza]

Grinding away, and feeling right at home [Tony Massarotti Blog]

Five Things We Learned on the Red Sox’ Way Home [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Much needed sweepage [Batter-up with Bruno]

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

And if the enemy papers are more your flavor, you can check out the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press websites.