Red Sox Sonoma

STOP SOPA!

2012-01-17T22:02:00.000-08:00

Red Sox Sonoma is in support of the great Internet blackout in protest of the U.S. Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and PROTECT-IP Act (PIPA) on January 17, 2012.

Bud Selig

2012-01-13T23:56:00.000-08:00

Matt posted on Fenway West that Bud Selig will be sticking around for a couple of more years, and posted this photo to go along with it. Love the photo, had to repost it here.

The Unsexiest Men of 2011

2012-01-13T23:41:00.000-08:00

The Boston Phoenix published their annual Unsexiest Men list, and 3 current Red Sox, 1 former Red Sox, and 3 Red Sox advertising gnomes made the 2011 edition.

The winners:
#77 Manny Ramirez
#62 Furniture Guys: Bob, Bernie, Jordan
#29 John Henry
#9 John Lackey & Josh Beckett

Bobby Valentine: "I hate the Yankees."

2011-12-12T22:21:00.001-08:00

I didn't know a whole lot about Bobby V., so when I read on ESPN that he said, "I hate the Yankees," I thought that he's going to be media darling, but can he manage? So I checked in with a long-time Mets fan friend of mine, and this is what he had to say about Bobby V.:

I am not a Bobby Valentine fan. He came up short with the under achieving Mets of the late 90s. He has too big an ego, loves the spotlight as much as winning. He knows the game well, but comes across as an entitled stuck up asshOle whose feces has no foul odor. He was once a top prospect out of southern california who was ushered to the MLB with silver spoon as a future superstar, only to never achieve potential as a player. He was a brat as a youngster, and now he is a 60 year old brat. Expect some major ups and downs with Bobby V at the helm, and a rocky road in Boston.

Hmmm... Not a rosy outlook from my friend Stew, but I'm not passing any judgement on him just yet. Remember, Tito didn't have a sparkling managerial track record before he came to Boston.

Box Score From the Past (09.10.99)

2011-12-12T22:21:00.000-08:00

Pedro Martinez has just announced his retirement. He is arguably the best pitcher that ever donned red hose, and to honor him this week, BSFTP goes back to a great day in history (for more than 1 reason) to the day he fanned 17 Yankees and allowing only 1 hit, no walks, no balks, no WPs.

Red Sox 3 Yankees 1 BOX SCORE
September 10, 1999

Yankee Stadium would be an airport

2011-12-07T23:45:00.000-08:00

I'm not so hard on Yankee fans these days. I mean, my father is one, and I'm in a couple of bands with another, so they all can't be bad. Besides, I just don't have the time or energy to be wastin' on hatin' Yankee fans. Yet, when I saw this photo on Facebook, I just had to chuckle a little. OK, a ~~lot~~ LOT.

Box Score From the Past (08.01.1962)

2011-12-05T12:15:00.000-08:00

Bill Monboquette tossed a no-hiiter for the Red Sox on August 1, 1962 against the Chicago White Sox. The Red Sox line-up in 1962 included Yaz LF (.291 BA, .844 OPS), Jim Pagliaroni C, (.292, .892), Pete Runnels 1B (.333, .903), and Lou Clinton RF (.295, .928) in the heart of the order. With a line-up like that, you would think that they might have scored more runs than that, but Early Winn had it goin' on himself that day, scattering 8 singles.

Red Sox 1 White Sox 0

August 1, 1962

As always, if there is a specific Red Sox game that you would like to see in BSFTP, let me know in the comments. If you don't know the exact date, write as much info as possible about the game and I will research it for you.

Box Score From The Past (07.27.65)

2011-11-21T14:12:00.000-08:00

BSFTP goes back to 1965 when Jim 'Catfish' Hunter won his 1st MLB game at Fenway Park. Hunter was signed by the Kansas City Athletics in 1964 and made his MLB debut the next season. He spent 15 years in the bigs, winning 18+ games 6 seasons in a row. In 2 of those seasons, he pitched over 300 innings! He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1999, he died in his hometown of Hertford, NC at 53 years of age.

Jim Lonborg was the losing pitcher that day and entered the game with absolutley nothing in his tank. He faced 5 batters in the 1st inning, all 5 got hits, all 5 scored. Others in the Red Sox line-up that day included Yaz, Petrocelli, Conigliaro, and Radatz.

The manager for the A's that year was Haywood Sullivan who played 1 year for the Red Sox and later returned to the Red Sox front office eventually working his way to General Manager. Ken Harrelson, John Wyatt and Jose Tartabull all were playing for the A's that day and all were on the 1967 'Impossible Dream' team.

Box Score From The Past (09.28.11)

2011-11-14T12:50:00.000-08:00

This off season's inaugural edition of BSFTP doesn't delve too far into the past. I'm going right to the heart of disappointment. I want to get this one out of the way ASAP- September 28, 2011. To describe this one as the 'heart of disappointment' might be a bit of an understatement. The Red Sox were supposed to go all the way in 2011, win >100 games and go 11-0 in the post-season. This is a reminder to players and media to cool it with the outrageous 2012 predictions lest ye be served up another bowlful yummy hubris.

Boston 3 Baltimore 4
September 28, 2011

Box Scores From The Past 2011-2012

2011-11-07T11:37:00.000-08:00

"Box Scores From The Past" will be returning soon this off season. Due to equal parts shock, protesting Wall Street, old age, therapy, and conditioning; yeah, that's it- conditioning; I was totally unprepared to resume posting BSFTP this early. Be watching starting around the 1st Monday of November. If there is a particular game that you would like to have highlighted in BSFTP, even if you don't have the exact date, let me know in the comments of this post, and I will research and post it for you.

Besides BSFTP, I'll be writing book reviews, my take on Tito and the 2011 season, the 2nd Annual Benefit for The Jimmy Fund review, and my interview with Ed Achorn, author of "59 in '84" (all w-a-y overdue, yes, I know.)

In the meantime, I'm posting for your amusement a jpeg that I found while working on another project.

"Moneyball" the movie

2011-10-02T21:11:00.001-07:00

“Moneyball” the book is one of the greatest baseball books out there and is now a movie starring Brad Pitt as Billy Beane. Beane must figure a way to put together a championship team in 2002 after winning 102 games in 2001 and losing 3 key players to free agency. Beane embraces Jamesian computer-generated analysis over old school scouting to selecting players, whether by drafting, trading or signing through free agency. After a dreadful start to the 2002 season, the A’s turn things around and eventually win the AL West, winning 20 games in a row along the way.

Movies frequently don’t do justice to books, but director Bennett Miller does a great job of telling Beane’s back stories in addition to the amazing story of how the Oakland A’s almost took down the Evil Empire of the New York Yankees not once, but twice, on a shoestring budget as compared to the money fountains the Yankees use to cash whip their players.

The whole cast put forth best efforts in this movie. Pitt stars as Beane, and Jonah Hill is his dorky, economics degree holding Assistant GM. Brent Jennings as Ron Washington is but one of several scouts who appear in the film capturing the essence of the methods of crusty, road weary scouts.

There is another big reason why Red Sox fans will be interested in this movie. Before there was Theo, there was Dan Duquette. Beane was courted as Duquette’s successor. Arliss Howard does a great job of portraying John Henry, and there are familiar scenes of Yawkey Way and Fenway Park, (including the press box from which this humble scribe has had the pleasure of covering a game.) Find out why Beane turned down Henry’s lucrative offer.

The Fenway and Henry scenes were unexpected but quite satisfying to this Sox fan, but there was one reason in particular why I made it out to see this movie on its opening weekend. I had the opportunity to be an extra in this movie during filming of the scenes in game 20 (of the win streak) and just had to see if I made it to the final cut. I’m the guy wearing the A’s hat.

Click here for the trailer.

Book Review: "Knuckler" by Tim Wakefield (with Tony Massarotti)

2011-10-02T21:11:00.000-07:00

“Knuckler” is the biography of Tim Wakefield, longtime Boston Red Sox knuckleball pitcher, written by Wakefield with Tony Massarotti. It tells a great story of his progression from his backyard in Melbourne, FL, fiddling with the pitch in high school and college, and through the 2010 season. Wakefield has experienced a number of highs and lows throughout his career. Highs include his dominating rookie year in 1992 with the Pirates, his outstanding 1^st year with the Sox in 1995 in which he won 16 games, lost 8 and sported a 2.95 ERA, and being named to the 2009 AL All Star Team by Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon. Lows include the disappointing end to his rookie season in which he may have won the Rookie of the Year award if not for his last pitch of the season, his sophomore slump, and the Boone pitch.

I don’t need to know what a celebrity eats for breakfast, or if he wears boxers or briefs, and thankfully Massarotti stays away from most of Wakefield’s personal life. He includes stories about and from other great knuckleballers including Tom Candiotti, Charlie Hough, Hoyt Wilhelm, Wilbur Wood, Joe Niekro and his brother Phil, who wrote the Foreword. He tells of his relationships with the Niekros, and how they mentored him, and were there for him during his slumps. Read about his endless humanitarian work with the Franciscan Hospital for Children and The Jimmy Fund, and his winning of the Roberto Clemente Award.

A knuckleball pitcher is a completely different breed of animal from other pitchers, and Massarotti gets it. A knuckleballer is not defined by ERA and WHIP statistics. They may have pedestrian statistics, but are priceless in their other contributions. A knuckleballer can start, close, short or long relieve, or perform in the most dreaded of pitching roles- the mop-up man. Wake has done ‘em all and lived to tell about ‘em all. Two of the most telling of all Wakefield’s statistics are his 3222.1 innings pitched and his 2152 strikeouts. I’m sure Billy Beane would drool over Wake’s ratios of IP/$ and K/$. Although he performs best in a starting role pitching every 4 or 5 days, he has taken many hits for the team including shuttling between the bullpen and the starting 5, starting on short rest in emergencies, sacrificing his post-season starts for emergency relief, and the aforementioned ‘mop-up man’ role. On more than one occasion, Wake has been ‘left in the barrel’ on days his pitch wasn’t working, soaking up innings to give the bullpen a much needed rest. Days like those don’t help out a knuckleballer’s bottom line, but Wakefield time and time again puts the team interests above those of his own. Despite his on field charity work, and the many games of little run support from the offense, Wakefield has been able to amass a tidy 200-179 won-loss record, giving him a quite respectable .528 winning percentage.

The book is a great story and an easy read, I was able to blast through it, twice. Massarotti does have a couple of annoying habits- including inserting phrases with questionable grammar in awkward places separated by dashes- and an inconsistent use of italics. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this book for any Red Sox, knuckleball, or baseball fan to read.

Wake and Fenway West's own Matt O'Donnell

WEEI Telethon San Francisco area game watching parties

2011-08-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

August 30th and 31st are the dates of this year's WEEI Annual Telethon:

Each year, Boston Red Sox and Jimmy Fund fans across the country team up to help us strike out cancer! By hosting viewing parties at bars and homes all over America, these dedicated supporters are helping to spread the word about the Radio-Telethon state by state. Click on the map below to see where you can go to watch the Radio-Telethon and cheer on the Sox in your home state.

There will be 2 Game Watching Parties in the San Francisco Bay Area. Karen Doherty, Red Sox Nation/CA governor, will be hosting a party at 4 pm on Tuesday, August 30th in San Mateo. Details can be found on the Facebook page, and on MLB Blogs Network.

As previously posted, The 2nd Annual Rock & Sox Benefit for The Jimmy Fund and The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute with The Cancer Sucks Band and Planet Waves~ A Tribute to Bob Dylan will take place at The Connecticut Yankee on Wednesday, August 31st. Benefit info is also posted on MLB Blogs Network. Game time is 4 pm (PDT) with the music scheduled to start about 9-9:30 pm. (Ya just never know how long a good ol' Sox-Yankees game will last!)

In addition to The Cancer Sucks Band and Planet Waves, MA native and Sox fan Chris Rowan (Rowan Brothers), Ozzie Ahlers (Jerry Garcia Band, Craig Chaquico), and Tim Flannery (3B coach of the SF Giants and a fine musician in his own right) are on the bill for this very special show.

Curses! Foiled again! (Sox win)

2011-08-22T12:50:00.001-07:00

Tim Wakefield was thwarted yet again in his quest for his 200th MLB win tonight in Minnesota despite allowing only 3 earned runs in 7 innings pitched. He struck out 4 Twins and did not walk any. Alfredo picked up a BS, but also earned the win. Papelbon pitched a 1-2-3- 9th inning.

Offensively, the Red Sox mashed 17 hits, count 'em, 17 hits. Ortiz led the attack with a 4/5 performance, including a go-ahead single in the top of the 9th inning. One night after going 4/4, Marco Scutaro notched 3 more hits in 4 at-bats. Jed Lowrie will have his work cut out for him.

Red Sox 8 Twins 6 BOX SCORE

More A-Rod Shenanigans

2011-08-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

Strippers, steroids, and now stuff for your nose and stogies at a poker game. Well, he's not being accused of snorting cocaine or smoking cigars, but in a story from according to ESPN, he was in attendance at an illegal poker game in Miami in which he lost a large sum of money, and in which cocaine was used and violence broke out.

MLB is not amused, and is considering suspension.

The 2nd Annual Rock & Sox Benefit for The Jimmy Fund and The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

2011-08-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

Fenway West and The Connecticut Yankee present the The 2nd Annual Rock & Sox Benefit for The Jimmy Fund and The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute on Wednesday, August 31st. The Yankees descend upon Fenway Park at 4 pm (PDT.) Come on down to watch the game, and then stick around for dinner and a show!

Last year, we raised over $1200 for these 2 fine organizations. Let's try and beat that this year!

You don’t have to be a Red Sox or baseball fan to enjoy The Cancer Sucks Band and Planet Waves as they raise funds for The Jimmy Fund and The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. These 2 organizations have been closely affiliated with the Boston Red Sox for many years. This year’s Benefit is part of DFCI’s ’50 State Game Watching Parties’ which coincides with WEEI’s Annual Telethon. CSB will perform a short set of Red Sox, baseball and classic rock covers by Neil Young, John Fogerty and others. Planet Waves will take the stage to finish off the night with their Jam Band Tribute to Bob Dylan. Planet Waves was the house band at Pat Nevins’ recent Bob Dylan 70^th Birthday Celebration, ‘Doing Dylan’, at the sold out Ashkenaz in Berkeley.

Cancer Sucks Band 2011 and Planet Waves SPECIAL GUESTS:

Tim Flannery, 3^rd base coach of the SF GIANTS

Chris Rowan, (Rowan Brothers)

Pat Nevins, (Workingman’s Ed, Ragged Glory)

Dave Stein

Ozzie Ahlers, (Jerry Garcia Band, Craig Chaquico)
Mitch Stein, (CRYPTICAL)
and spoken word poet Sam Flot

The Cancer Sucks Band 2010 performs 'Dirty Water' by The Standells:

No, this can't be! No way! PITTSBURGH?!

2011-07-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

I went to take a look at the MLB standings and had to clean the screen after the spittake when I saw this:

PITTSBURGH IS IN 1ST PLACE!

I had to check the calendar, yes this is July, not January 19th, there were no white lines around me when I woke up, and my name wasn't in the obituaries. I am not making this up! Click on the graphic and it will bring you to MLB.com Standings for July 19, 2011.

Wow. The 1st ball game I ever went to was at old Forbes Field, so I've had a soft spot for the Pirates ever since. Them and the Giants, too. That makes both of my favorite NL teams in 1st place, and of course my favorite AL and MLB team is in 1st place.

But Pittsburgh? Really?!

Anyone still up? 16 innings later...

2011-07-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

30 ZEROs went up on the scoreboard before a run scored. Both starting pitchers, Beckett for the Red Sox and Niemann for the Rays pitched 8 brilliant innings. Josh Beckett gave up a single in the 2nd inning and the proceeded to sit down the next 20-something batters. The bullpen was equally as impressive giving up only 2 hits and 1 walk in the next 8 innings.

In the top of the 16th inning, Dustin Pedroia rang up his 3rd hit of the game (in a game with only 8 hits total) and knocked in Josh Reddick for the 1st and only run of the game.

Aceves pitched 3 scoreless and got the win. Iron Man Award goes to Jason Varitek for catching all 16 innings.

Red Sox 1 Rays 0 BOX SCORE

"This used to be a family show!"

2011-07-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

A big shout of thanks to Ian at Sox & Dawgs for posting this video of a man getting a handful of something that should ought not be seen on a family show. DO and Jerry lose it mid-game laughing uncontrollably like a couple of boobs over the next few minutes. They finally had to send it to Heidi after blurting out, "This used to be a family show!"

Original Video - More videos at TinyPic

Not quite NSFW, but may depending upon where you work.

Be careful when reaching for that foul ball

2011-07-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

A Texas Rangers fan plunged 20' yesterday after reaching for a ball that was thrown into the stands by Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton after a foul ball hit by Oakland A Conor Jackson in the 2nd inning of that game had ricocheted into left field. Hamilton picked up the ball and tossed it into the stands. Local firefighter Shannon Stone, who was sitting in the front row of his section, reached over the railing and caught the ball before losing his balance and falling 20' to the concrete floor behind the scoreboard. After he landed, he repeatedly asked those around him to check on his young son, who had witnessed the fall. He died less than an hour later. Be warned that the following videos may be difficult for some to watch.

Additional video, click here.

I have been questioning for some time now how many balls are used in a ball game and the cost of all those balls. I believe that all MLB baseballs should remain property of MLB as long as they deem it, including any high profile or record breaking home run balls hit out of the stadium. (This would alleviate ugly litigation that frequently occurs over ownership of such balls.) Routine home runs and foul balls could remain property of the fan who catches it once MLB releases their ownership.

I remember when the player who caught the inning ending ball would drop it on the mound for the next pitcher. Any balls remaining on the playing field should remain property of MLB and used for batting practice, rather than having players toss them into the stands. This would also reduce the chances of such critical and fatal fan falls, and also reduce team's operating costs (albeit a small percentage of those costs.) I also understand that this practice adds to fans in attendance enjoyment of that game, but at what cost? I imagine that Stone's family might file a wrongful death suit against the Texas Rangers, Oakland A's, MLB, and quite possibly the manufacturer of the ball. Had that ball not been thrown into the stands by a player, as opposed to a ball being hit into the stands, Stone would not have fallen to his death.

Red Sox go ballistic on Astros

2011-07-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

The Red Sox sent the Astros to the moon tonight behind a 13 hit, 10 run fireworks display just in time for the holiday. They started strong behind a 3 run 1st inning on 3 singles and 2 walks before registering their 1st out. Salty hit into a fielder's choice driving in the 3rd run of the inning. Miller pitched a strong 6 innings allowing only 2 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3 Astros. His record now stands at 2-0, with a 3.06 ERA. At the end of 6 innings, the score stood at 4-2, favor Red Sox. They opened it up big time with a 4 run 8th inning when Darnell McDonald bought some time for himself when he sent a rocket into deep left field and over the wall. He's still way below the Mendoza line however (.125), lower than even Mike Cameron. We'll see what fate holds in store for him.

Gonzo continued on his holy reign of terror hitting his AL leading 27th double, 1 of his 3 hits on the night, raising his batting average to .353, also leading the AL. His 74 RBIs also leads the league. His HR total is lacking, though. His 16 HRs trails Toronto's Bautista by 10 HRs. He'll have to start flexing those muscles if he wants to be the 1st Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski won it in 1967. That is no complaint, however. The Sox are getting a most excellent return on their investment.

Yamaico Navarro entered the game when Youk got lost in the NL's pitcher's pinch hitter shuffle. He proceeded to hit his 1st Major League home run in his 1st at bat of this season in the 7th inning. His line now stands at an AL leading 1.000/1.000/4.000/5.000.

A few interesting Red Sox AL's top lines:

Player's name      BA        OBP        SLG       OPS
Navarro             1.000     1.000        4.000      5.000
Reddick                .452     .490    .714    1.204
Gonzalez              .353       .407    .593    1.000
Lackey      .333      .333     .667 1.000
Ortiz          .302    .383 .565     .948

(Gonzo and Papi are the only 2 with enough ABs, but you knew that.)

Red Sox 10, Astros 4 BOX SCORE

All in the family

2011-07-02T21:04:00.000-07:00

Outfielder Darnell McDonald, who did not start Sunday's game but entered the game in the 2nd inning, is the cousin of Pirate's Sunday starting pitcher James McDonald. The two had never faced each other before today.

So who won today's familial face-off? It was a draw. James struck out Darnell swinging to end the 3rd inning with 2 men on. In the 6th inning Darnell reached on a throwing error by James, (but was caught stealing 3 batters later to end the inning.)

Boston Dirt Dogs- J. D. Booooo

2011-06-26T22:50:00.002-07:00

I saw this post on Boston Dirt Dogs today, and not that I'm a Drew hater, but the content below the photo is classic.

Click on the photo or the link above to view post in normal size.

What to do with The Big Papi in NL parks

2011-06-26T22:50:00.001-07:00

It's interleague time again folks, and this time the Sox head out on the road to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Houston. When the AL teams play in NL parks, there is no DH, and pitchers will step into the batters box in these games.

In the past 2 years, when David Ortiz had miserable Aprils and Mays, it wasn't hard to sit him for those 9 games. This year, he's experiencing a renaissance of sorts just mashing the snot out of the ball right out of the gate. With Crawford and Gonzalez in the line-up, he's lower in the batting order, and the pressure has been off him. He has responded with a season that will rank right up there with his best ones. Last time I checked, he projected to hit 42 home runs and drive in 109 runs.

So what will Tito do with him in those 9 games? The likely scenario is that Ortiz will play 1B and Gonzalez will move to right field. RF? Yes, RF. He has played 1 game there in his time in the big leagues when he was with Texas in 2005 during his rookie season. In that game, he made 3 catches and 1 error. Once Mark Teixeira left the game, he moved back to 1B, (That he surpassed Tex in the ASG voting this year makes 2 times he's replaced him.)

Tito does not want to sit Ortiz and his hot lumber for 9 games: "I don't want David to sit nine straight games. That bothers me." Ortiz has hit in 70 of the first 72 games of the 2011 campaign. That is someone you don't want sitting on your bench.

And what does Gonzo have to say about this? He told Boston reporters that he is game for the change—on a temporary basis, of course—but that Francona hasn't approached him about it yet. He likely will soon.

Tornado at College WS

2011-06-26T22:50:00.000-07:00

The Midwest tornadoes have been in the weather news quite often this year. Monday night the twisters stormed across the plains, and in Omaha, baseball fans had to scramble out of the stadium during the College World Series. At the 1:08 mark in this video, you can see them hot-footin’ it out of there.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/fierce-tornados-caught-on-tape-in-midwest-25695965

Wake in the driver's seat, Sox hammer Brewers 12-3

2011-06-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

There would be no hard luck losses or no-decisions for Wake today, as the Sox poured it on the Brewers hard, pounding out 14 hits for 12 runs. Chasing Wake's knuckleball, it looked as if the Brewers had been sampling Milwaukee suds a little too much today, as they could manage only 3 hits off of the ageless pitcher. Wake walked only 1 batter, and there are no wild pitches or passed balls to speak of. He needed only 99 pitches to get through the 8 innings. He walked only 1 batter and notched 6 strikeouts on the day. His W-L record now stands at 4-2 for the season to date, with a dropping 4.26 ERA. Dan Wheeler pitched a scoreless 9th inning.

The win gives him 197 career victories, and 183 victories in a Sox uni. Reaching 200 career wins this season is looking like a lock. 10 more victories in the Sox will leave him alone at the top of that list, higher than Clemens* and Cy Young, and is on his 2011 season radar.

Offensively- another fireworks display! The Sox jumped all over starter Yovani Gallardo tagging him for 6 runs in the 1st inning. Every Red Sox starter had a hit, while Ellsbury, Pedroia, Gonzalez and Drew all had a multi-hit game. Youk, Pedy and Scutaro hit home runs, while the not-so-fleet-of-foot Gonzalez banged hit 3rd triple of the season. (Not as slow as he claims?) Adding 4 doubles to the mix gives the Sox a total of 8 extra-base hits for the day.

The win gives the Sox a 43-28 W-L record, .606 pct., 41-18 since 2-10, .694 pct. The 2nd place Yankees (oh how I love writing that!) play the Cubs in Chicago tonight.

Red Sox 12 Brewers 3 BOX SCORE

What a difference 58 days makes

2011-06-19T13:35:00.000-07:00

The Red Sox have scored 83 runs in the past 9 games! That's the type of offense that was written about during Spring Training, but that's not how things started out. We all know those dubious numbers: 2-10 W-L record on April 15. 58 days later, the W-L record stands at 39-26, which gives them a W-L record of 37-16 in those 58 days. (That's a .698 winning percentage for those of you keeping track at home.)

As for individual offensive changes of the 12 players with the most plate time in that time span, take a look at this table:

Click on graphic to make larger

As you can see, 10/12 of these players have numbers heading north. Although Pedroia's numbers have dropped, he is having a monster June and is seeing his numbers back on the rise.

Mr. Cameron, you're still on the Interstate! What is up with that?! Off to the cages with you!

And you, Mr. Jed... you're offensive numbers are, well, quite offensive. On April 18, the Red Sox had just finished a 4 game set with the Blue Jays, a set in which Lowrie went 9/15, leaving him with a line of .516/.545/.588/1.133. We knew he wouldn't hit at that rate for the season, but who saw this drop-off coming? Jed, warm thee up thy bat lest ye be saddled with a moniker of 'trade-bait.'

The most pleasant set of numbers have to belong to The Big Papi. 2009 and 2010 saw slow starts for Papi. Naysayers tagged him with an all-washed-up label, only to have him come back and have respectable numbers at year's end. This year, he started warm, but has gone completely off the hook! He projects to having 43 HRs and 109 RBIs.

No complaints here! Just lovin' every minute of it!

Wakefield Wins, Red Sox ALONE in 1st Place!

2011-06-12T22:56:00.001-07:00

What a blast of good news after coming in from working outside all day!

My main man, Tim Wakefield, notched his career victory #196, and his Red Sox victory #182, only 10 short of the franchise record. Wake pitched 5.1 innings, and while not overpowering- he allowed 5 runs- he left sitting on a 7-4 lead. A little shaky at first, Aceves came in with 2 men on in the bottom of the 6th and gave up 2 singles, allowing 1 of Wake's runners to score, leaving himself with a full boat and only 1 out. He rose to the challenge and induced Jeter to hit into an inning ending twin killing. Aceves walked away from the game with his 1st save of the season.

Big Papi hit his 15th HR of the season, (no bat flip), and is the proud owner of a .323 batting average. Every man on the Red Sox line-up had at least 1 R or 1 H or 1 RBI. Seven of nine had at least 2 Hs or 2 Rs or 2 RBIs. Drew and Crawford homered in addition to the Papi.

The Sox hammered AJ Burnout for 8 runs in 5.2 innings. He has not earned a win against the Red Sox in his 8 starts as a Yankee, and to think that's exactly why the Yankees went out and dropped bank on him.

The Red Sox are all alone at the top of the AL EAST!

Red Sox 11 Yankees 6 BOX SCORE

The Papi Flip

2011-06-12T22:56:00.000-07:00

Last night in the top of the 5th inning, Big Papi David Ortiz got brushed off in what some speculated might have been retaliation for Lester drilling Teixeira and Martin in the 1st inning. He picked himself up, dusted himself off, and then drilled the next inside pitch for a classic Ortiz home run. He knew it the instant he hit it, as probably much of the 48k fans in the house did at the time. He air-ailed his maple stick back towards the Sox dugout as he spun towards 1st to take his HR trot.

You can see the video here.

After the game Joe Girardi said he didn't really care for it. He said something about protecting his young kid on the mound (who didn't see the flip), and then said something about if one of his guys did it... yadda, yadda, yadda. Oh come on Joe! It wasn't like he was blowing kisses at the pitcher as he rounded the bases. It wasn't like he was standing at the plate for 10 minutes with his arms in the air as Manny did against the Angels.Yeesh. Joe's comments can be heard at the 4:45 mark in this video.

Anyhow, the major media are all jumping on this story: Boston Herald, Gordon Edes/ESPN, Sean McAdam/NECN, Nick Cafardo/Boston.com, NY Daily News, CBS New York, and seem to care more about this story than the Yankees do.

Wake Shines Again!

2011-05-30T13:24:00.000-07:00

Tim Wakefield pitched into the 7th inning allowing 4 hits and 1 run while striking out 3 Cubs. The win gives him 194 lifetime and 180 in his Red Sox career. That leaves him 6 shy of the 200 mark and is 12 short of the Red Sox's team record of 192 -- the total shared by Cy Young and Roger Clemens.

The Red Sox pounded out 12 hits tonight, including a 4/4 performance from Adrian Gonzalez. Kevin Youkilis drove in 2 runs with a triple and Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit his 3rd HR of the season. Daniel Bard went 1.1 innings giving up nothing to the Cubs. The Yankees and The Rays both won today. The Red Sox remain 0.5 GB them, but at 25-21, they have gone 23-11 since their dubious 2-10 start.

For videos of Wakefield, Youkilis and Saltalamcchia, click here.

Red Sox 5 Cubs 1 BOX SCORE

Best Fan Sign Ever?

2011-05-22T23:31:00.000-07:00

Masshole Sports has posted a photo of the Best Fan Sign Ever down in the giant yurt known as Tropicana Field. It's borderline NSFW, otherwise I would have posted it here. It's definitely in questionable taste, but with a name like Masshole, I suppose that is to be expected.

UPDATE: That was the Fenway West post, but I can post it here, though.

Carl Crawford has arrived

2011-05-16T23:19:00.000-07:00

With his 2nd walk-off hit this week, Carl Crawford has removed the monkey from his back. He started the season with a horrendous .155/.204/.227/.431 line for the month of April. In the 1st 10 games in the month of May, his line reads .361/.378/.500/.878, quite the difference.

As for the rest of the crew, McDonald, Varitek, and Cameron are all on the interstate, while Salty and Crawford have both risen above the Mendoza Line. Scutaro and Drew both have BAs in the low .200's. Pedroia is in a rare slump dragging his BA down to .237. Youk started slow, but has since risen his BA to .250. That leaves Lowrie, Gonzalez, Ellsbury and Ortiz all with very satisfactory numbers so far.

Fenway Security Takedown Update

2011-05-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Matt posted a youtube video of a drunk guy running on to right field and getting slam dunked by Fenway Security. Today, MyFoxBoston interviewed the guy. (I hesitate to use the word 'fan'.)

Crawford gets the walk off hit, Sox win

2011-05-04T23:00:00.000-07:00

Carl Crawford is no longer useless. He had 2 hits today, including a game winning walk off single in the bottom of the 9th inning scoring Jed Lowrie who had just hit a triple.

Now, back to Bobby Jenks. Tim Wakefield had pitched 5.2 innings and had allowed only 3 hits, 1 run and 1 walk while striking out 3 Mariners. Wake left the game in the 6th inning with a man on 1st and the Red Sox holding 2-out 2-0 lead. Jenks. Jenks' 6th inning: single, wild pitch, walk, walk, walk, before finally getting the final out.

Salty and Wake combined to catch Chone Figgins trying to steal 2nd base, not an easy thing to do.

Jenks leaves the game tied 2-2. Albers and Papelbon pitched 3 scoreless innings, before Crawford earned a tiny bit of of redemption.

Sox 3 Mariners 2 BOX SCORE

Red Sox drop another one

2011-05-04T22:59:00.002-07:00

Despite John Lackey pitching 6 innings and allowing only 2 runs, Doug Fister of the Mariners went better- 5.2 IP and didn't allow any runs. Salty had 2 hits and in scoreless relief Oki went 1.2 IP and Wheeler went 1.1 IP.

Red Sox 0 Mariners 2 BOX SCORE

Sox starting lineup vs. Mariners 04.30.11

2011-05-04T22:59:00.001-07:00

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. J.D. Drew, RF
7. Jed Lowrie, SS
8. Carl Crawford, LF
9. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

SP -- John Lackey

Saturday night at 7:10 ET at Fenway Park

Jenks- This year's Gagne?

2011-05-04T22:59:00.000-07:00

In 2007, the Eric Gagne Experiment went terribly awry. That was the experiment in which Gagne, an elite closer with the Dodgers and Rangers, came to Boston and nearly cost the Red Sox 2007 playoff hopes when he blew 3 save opportunities before being relegated to mop up duty. Needless to say, he did not make the post season roster.

Fast forward to 2011, and it appears that Bobby Jenks is taking Gagne's place in the current version.

Dice-K pitched to 1 batter in the 5th inning before leaving the game with tightness in his elbow. He had allowed only 1 ER up to that point. Matt Albers pitched 2 innings of scoreless relief. Jenks came in to pitch the 7th with a 1 run lead. He gave up 3 hits, 1 walk, and 2 runs, which garnered him a BS and a L for his efforts. Okajima and Bard each pitched a scoreless inning.

Jenks' line for this season is pretty ugly so far. In 10 games, he has 8.1 IP, 1-2 W-L, 8.64 ERA, 1 BS, 2.16 WHIP, .324 BAA, 405 SLG, and .419 OBA.

Mike Cameron hit 2 HR's.

Red Sox 4 Mariners 5 BOX SCORE

Jason Bay hits a 'Little League Home Run'

2011-04-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

Former Red Sox Jason Bay hit a 'Little League Home Run last night against the Houston Astros in New York yesterday. Bay hit a pop up to shallow right field. Houston Astros outfielder Hunter Pence dropped the ball and it took off for the right field corner. Bay was already bolting right out of the box and when he saw Pence drop the ball, he then put it into overdrive and made it all the way home standing up. Pence gets the dubious 4 base error added to his sheet.

Watch the video here

And another road victory!

2011-04-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

After starting off the 2011 campaign with a downright fugly 2-10 W-L record, the Red Sox have seemed to turn things around winning the next 5 of 6 games, giving them a 7-16 W-L record, leaving them 4 games out of 1st place.

Josh Beckett turned in his 3rd outstanding performance in a row, hurling 8 innings of 3 hit, 2 run ball. He left the game with the 2 teams tied a 2 runs apiece. The Red Sox bullpen shined the way they had been expected to with Bard, Jenks and Papelbon tossing 3 shutout innings.

Jed Lowrie got another hit tonight, while scoring 1 and knocking in 1 RBI. Pedroia got 3 hits, but the biggest hit of the night came from Adrian Gonzalez who knocked in the go ahead run in the 11th inning.

Red Sox 4 Angels 2 BOX SCORE

Finally a road victory

2011-04-22T12:34:00.000-07:00

The Red Sox notched their 1st road victory in Oakland today. The victory came on their 8th road game of the year and the 17th game of the 2011 campaign. Clay Buchholz was rattled from the start after Coco Crisp hit his 1st pitch of the game for a home run. Although he put up zeros into the 6th inning, 9 other A's made it onto the base paths, 5 coming from hits and 4 coming from walks. You can tell when Buchholz lets base runners get to him when he spends as much time throwing to the bases as he does to the batter. No matter, he did his job and left the game allowing only 1 Athletic cross home plate. In the 6th inning he gave up a double and 2 walks before leaving the game visibly upset with his performance. Enter Daniel Bard with the bases loaded. Cliff Pennington proceeded to smack Bard's 1st pitch, a 96 mph 4-seam fastball deep into the left field corner and out of view from where my brother and I were sitting. A's fans voiced their displeasure at the foul ball ruling. Pennington swung at 2 more 96 mph heaters and he sits down. Bard gets his 3rd Hold of the season after pitching 1.2 innings. Bobby Jenks didn't fare so well. He gave up another run in 0.2 IP. Pap earned his 3rd Save allowing the final A run.

The Sox faced yet another left handed pitcher leaving David Ortiz as the odd man out. Smokin' hot Jed Lowrie, who attended Stanford University, not far from here, hit his 3rd HR of the season, which was his 2nd hit of the game. Drew and Youk also homered today.

The remarkably relatively well attended game (29+k) actually had a fair amount of A's fans in attendance at 'Fenway West.' Most games that I have been here for usually have well more Sox fans then A's fans. Nevertheless, there was a sizable Red Sox fan contingent in the house.

The 'Emperor of Red Sox Nation,' a fixture on Sawxheads, was not seen today. But there was an adorable young family sitting directly in front of me and my brother (this one lives here, not the one who lives back east.) The 6th inning rain sent them scurrying for cover with their 2 daughters. One good thing about the rain- it sent a good chunk of fans home early, leaving plenty of room on the train for the rest of us.

The 'Emperor'

Red Sox 5 Athletics 3 BOX SCORE

No Lost Game Streak

2011-04-19T21:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks and a tip of the cap to Edward Achorn and artist Macleod

Alfred E. Neuman said it best

2011-04-19T21:17:00.000-07:00

Quote of the day?

Ellsbury in the funny papers

2011-04-11T00:54:00.001-07:00

Has anyone told the Red Sox that Spring Training is over?

2011-04-11T00:54:00.000-07:00

Just sayin', ykwim? I mean, I'm not ready to pounce on a panic button just yet, jeez, guys, c'mon already! The Rangers are tough, but the Indians? Please, you guys can do better than that.

OK, 2011 season, take 2.

Where are they now?

2011-04-11T00:53:00.000-07:00

"Where are they now? " is one of my occasional series of posts when I find a former Red Sox player in the news and post about them here.Brian Daubach is the manager of a the Washington Nationals farm team. Shea Hillenbrand has an interesting story to tell. Scott Hatteberg is scheduled to play himself in the "Moneyball" movie about Oakland A's GM Billy Beane. Freddy Sanchez, Ramon Ramirez and Javier Lopez are playing for the Giants and wearing World Series rings. The list goes on.

Over The Monster takes a trip around the majors and lists former Red Sox players on other MLB teams on Opening Day, 2011.

Red Sox cap sighting (04.01.11)

2011-04-08T13:06:00.000-07:00

Jeff Miller of New Monsoon was seen sportin' a Red Sox cap in 2007 and was captured for all eternity by noted San Francisco Bay Area concert photographer Susan J. Weiand, who is a Red Sox fan originally from Massachusetts. Miller sat in with New Monsoon last night on this smokin' hot rendition of "Catfish John."

Quote of the day (03.31.11)

2011-04-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

Print quote from Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe after Buck Showalter, manager of the Orioles, made questionable remarks about Theo Epstein and the budget he has to work with:

Anonymously order 100 pizzas from Sarasota House of Pizza, charge to Buck Showalter. That'll teach him.

"Boston Movie" is Fever Pitch, The Town, The Departed and Good Will Hunting; all in 1 movie

2011-04-04T22:01:00.000-07:00

Coming soon to a theatre near you.

Boston Movie Trailer - watch more funny videos

Aceves throws five perfect innings

2011-04-02T09:33:00.001-07:00

From Cincinnati.com*:

Alfredo Aceves threw five perfect innings for the Pawtucket Red Sox on Wednesday in Fort Myers, Fla., according to a tweet from announcer Dan Hoard.

Aceves recorded nine strikeouts and posted a strike-to-ball ratio of 44/17 against the Norfolk Tides. Hideki Okajima entered the game in relief of Aceves and pitched a scoreless inning for the PawSox as well.

Hoard also reported that Aceves will start on Opening Night in Pawtucket.

*Dan Hoard also announces for the Cincinnatti Bengals.

Red Sox cap sighting (03.29.11)

2011-04-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

I watch very little TV, so I have no idea what's going on at Survivor. I did happen to see a commercial for it last night while I was watching NCIS, and found a character on that show who goes by the name of Boston Rob and was sportin' his Red Sox cap.

Box score from the past (10.03.10)

2011-03-31T10:37:00.000-07:00

For the last 'Box score from the past' for this off season, I thought I'd take a look at where the Sox left off last season. Lo and behold it was the Red Sox thumping the Yankees. They had already denied the Yanks the possibility of winning the AL East and were playing for pride. The Sox sent mostly reserves up against mostly Yankee starters. Jed Lowrie hit 2 home runs, and John Lackey pitched 7+ innings, allowing 6 hits and only 2 earned runs, while striking out 10 of those nasty little Yankee buggers. Let's hope they start up right where they left off!

Quote of the day

2011-03-30T11:35:00.001-07:00

Someone suggested to Terry Francona that Aceves sometimes seems possessed.

"That's a good word,'' he said. "Enthusiastic. Certainly full of energy.''

A little like the irrepressible Julian Tavarez, perhaps?

"No, no, no,'' Francona said. "Scratch 'possessed.'''

Thanks, and a tip of the cap to Gordon Edes.

Box Score from the past (04.17.64)

2011-03-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

April 17, 1964 was the home opener that year. Tony Conigliaro was stepping up to the plate for the 1st time in Fenway Park. Batting seventh in the order and facing Joe Horlen of the White Sox, he sent at his first pitch over the Green Monster in left field, and even over the net that hung above the Wall. The ball reportedly landed in New Hampshire, and a Red Sox star was born.

Box score from the past (04.08.69)

2011-03-28T21:38:00.000-07:00

April 8, 1969 marked the date of Tony Conigliaro's 1st game back after recuperating from a horrific beaning from Jack Hamilton of the Angels on August 18, 1967 in Boston. He had suffered from a broken cheekbone and severe damage to his left retina. He won the Comeback Player of the Year that year, hitting 20 homers with 82 RBI in 141 games, but on this day in 1969, Tony C. stepped up to the plate in his 1st game back, and proceeded to hit a HR on the 1st pitch he saw.

April 8, 1969: After a long recovery following a August 1967 beaning, Tony Conigliaro starts his first game for Boston. His dramatic 2-run 10th-inning home run gives the Red Sox a brief lead, and his 12th-inning run wins it, 5–4 over the O's at Baltimore.

Stay away from Timmy with that axe!

2011-03-28T11:25:00.001-07:00

Ever since CHB posted his mother-of-all-fish-wrapper post last week about his interview with Tim Wakefield, there has been no shortage of writers chiming in on this topic:

Luke Adams of MLB Trade Rumors
NBC Hardball Talk Luke Adams (again)
Zach Links of MLB Trade Rumors
Boston Herald
WEEI
MassLive.com
AOL

Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com
ABC

Gordon Edes of ESPN wrote: "Veteran Tim Wakefield is on the bubble, according to the source, and might be available for left-handed relief help."

One Red Sox official has called the ESPNBoston story "false." According to Edes his source was describing scenarios he'd been told by another Sox official. GM Theo Epstein also disputed the report, writes John Tomase of the Boston Herald.

Edes was forced to revisit his post and do some explaining:

"I'm not suggesting the Red Sox are trying to peddle off any of these guys," Edes said, "but of course they're going to listen on any of these guys."

Apparently, the Red Sox official wasn't saying that Wakefield is on the trading block, just that he is one of several players that the Red Sox could make available were there any teams to make an inquiry. To date, no other team has been found to make an inquiry.

Wakefield's future could well depend on whether the Red Sox keep one or two left-handers in the bullpen. Manager Terry Francona has always expressed a preference for two, but usually qualifies that by saying it's not essential if he has a righty who is effective in getting lefties out.

Club sources told Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com that Wakefield’s spot in the bullpen is safe.

Let's get this over for once and all. Yes, Baseball is a business, sentiment all but thrown off the top of the Green Monster left to crash like a homer hit over the wall that landed in the window of an unsuspecting vehicle parked behind it. It's unfortunate that in lean times payroll is the 1st account that gets attacked in order to stay afloat. Yet many 'businesses' donate money to charities, work pro bono, strive to be one of the 'Top 100 companies to work for', and become involved in their communities in order to become a respected model of a well run company and an asset to the community. All of these work related scenarios cost the company money on a spreadsheet, but they also raise the value of the company in ways that aren't measured in the trial balance. I'm not suggesting that Wakefield is a charity, far from it. What I am suggesting is that some expenses that cost money in the short term may reap awards in the future not seen in the expense that is incurred today. The money that the Red Sox don't pay him can be used to pay other desired players. (If the Cardinals blink and pay Pujols the $300 bazillion dollars he wants, they will not have any money left for the rest of the team. I doubt Pujols could play all 9 positions at the same time.)

Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan all pitched successfully in MLB after reaching 45 years of age. Tim Wakefield is only 44 years old. I don't write this to suggest that Wakefield is a similar pitcher, he is not. While those fireballers were throwing 100 or more pitches a game at over 90 mph, Wake has been throwing the same number of pitches but at 69 mph. That's a lot less wear and tear he's been putting on that arm. Wakefield stands in the company of Hoyt Wilhelm (49), Phil Niekro (48), and Charlie Hough (46), all long lasting, slow pitch, low wear and tear, knuckleballers.

Wakefield will never pitch for any other MLB team. The Red Sox and all of MLB knows this. Why that Red Sox official chose to include his name in that list is beyond me. I am left wondering why Edes even took the comment at face value without prying more. No other team will have him (which is no slight to Wakefield), as they would have to find a catcher who could catch him.

Wakefield is not chewing up a slot on the roster. In his 16 seasons with the Red Sox, he has passed 140 IP in all but 1 season. He has averaged 177 innings of work over those 16 seasons. Any time you have a pitcher who is capable of throwing more than 200 innings a season (5 times) and earn less than $2 million (and only $4 million for several years before), you've got a keeper there.

Some may point to his sub-par numbers from last season. Just as other players have distractions that affect their game (divorce, family illness, injuries, natural disasters, etc.) so did Wake experience a distraction last year. He went into Spring Training last year expecting to be in the starting rotation. After several seasons as a solid starter, being sent to the bullpen was indeed a big distraction for him and affected his performance accordingly. Spring Training 2011 sees Wake arriving knowing ahead what his role this year will be.

Some will point to the fact that Francona has not named the relievers yet is a sign that the end is nigh for him. When asked about the final spots on the bullpen roster, he made it clear why he's not naming them. It's not because Wake is at risk of losing his job, it's to spare the misery to the rest of the guys trying for one of those final spots.'' Francona said:

"I wouldn't do that to these guys. They have a stressful couple of weeks ahead of them. I'm not going to make it worse."

The knuckleball is a fickle pitch. A knuckleballer can get into a groove and pitch 5 solid games and all of a sudden throw a stinker with no apparent reason. The knuckleball can throw batters off for the whole of a 3 or 4 game series. But there will be occasional days when there is no keeping the ball in the park. Then there is the recurring mystery of Wake pitching a gem and still losing too many times due to lack of run support.

Lastly, there is the fact that the Red Sox are close to thin ice in the rotation department. Aceves and Doubront have been named as possible 6th starters if AND when one of the 1st 5 sustain an injury. The safe route this early in the season is to send Aceves and Doubront in Pawtucket for now.One of those 5 starters will need an unexpected day off or will sustain an injury sending him to the DL, you can bank on that. Wakefield provides that safety cushion. Besides the spot starter role, he also will pitch long relief and mop-up duty saving the other arms for another day. And should Wake falter, he'll know better than any of us when to call it quits,

And for goodness sake, will somebody please pass the potato salad to Wake?!

Quote of the day (03.17.11)

2011-03-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

Victor Martinez on Gerald Saltalamacchia:

"He definitely has the ability, and he's going to do good," Martinez said of the man who essentially replaces him in the lineup. "He's a hard worker, a smart guy. He's going to do good. I really believe that at this point in his career he has really matured and he's going to be good."

And the abridged version:

"… he's going to do good… He's going to do good … he's going to be good."

I think Salty will do just fine.

Quote of the day (03.16.11)

2011-03-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

Terry Francona on Dice-K and the rotation:

“If I took Daisuke out of the rotation tomorrow, “I wouldn’t want to play for me.”

Shaughnessy and Edes: Wakefield could be moved

2011-03-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

Huh? WHAT?!

Dan Shaughnessy is just farting, but Edes reported it, too. These guys know, they know, that Wake never play for any other MLB team. They KNOW this. Zach Links of MLB Trade Rumors picked up Shaughnessy's fluff and ran with it, (not knowing who CHB is, I'm sure.) Red Sox officials including Theo Epstein denied the report of Tim Wakefield being on the trading block, as well as Dice-K, Mike Cameron, Darnell McDonald and Marco Scutaro not being on the trading block.

Could somebody please make Shaughnessy go away? This is his brief interview with Wake (not brief enough):

Q: Is it guaranteed that you are on the team? Has it ever occurred to you that you might not be on the team this year?
A: It hasn’t occurred to me.
Q: Well, you looked really good today, but your value is as a starter.
A: Right. In my opinion, that’s what my value is.
Q: So if you’re not going to start . . .
A: What are you getting at? If I’m not a starter, I don’t make the team?
Q: Not my call. I’m just wondering what else they would do. I like you as a starter.
A: Well, I like me as a starter, too, but right now it can’t happen.

Box score from the past (4th of July, 2003)

2011-03-16T13:35:00.000-07:00

Johnny Damon was hitting lead off and had a BA of .251 more than half way through the season. Walker, Garciaparra, Manny and Millar followed and all were batting over .300, as was Ortiz, who was in the 6 hole. Kapler, Mueller and Varitek filled the bottom 3 of the line-up, and both Mueller and Varitek had .300+ batting averages. Derek Lowe and David Wells were the starting pitchers and both had 10-3 W-L records after this game. Except for Damon, every Red Sox player had a BA of .287 or better.

Don Orsillo is Too Sexy For His Shirt

2011-03-14T22:37:00.001-07:00

Ian at Sox & Dawgs has an eye-burning yet hilarious video of Don Orsillo singing 'Too Sexy For This Shirt.'

Click here to check it out.

Sweet Caroline?

2011-03-14T22:37:00.000-07:00

So I was surfing the youtubes again. This time I was looking for alternative versions of 'Sweet Caroline' when I found 2 country-ish versions by The Railbenders. The oddest thing about their choice of covers is that this is a band from Denver. Yes, the same Denver, home of the 2007 wind-swept-out-of-the-World-Series Colorado Rockies. The studio version was released in 2003, but the live version was recorded a mere 4 months after the Rockies were leveled by the Red Sox. The crowd even knows the requisite sing-a-long lines of "Bahn-bahn-bahn" and "So good! So good!! So good!!!" Unclear on the concept? Blissfully unaware? All alone in the end zone? Comfortably numb? Whatever, it was still odd watching Coloradans playing and singing that song.

I really felt bad that 'Sweet Caroline' wasn't played at last year's Rock & Sox. (There's a reason for that, but it's in the past now. Musicians, yeesh.) So I decided to look for alternative versions for this year's event and this is what I found:

Which version do you like better? Are there other notable versions out there?

Bleacher Report- OOPS!

2011-03-14T22:36:00.000-07:00

I saw the link and the title, so I clicked on it. I cruised through the slide show and saw a huge glaring mistake when I got to the last slide. Eric Ball has a photo of Mel Parnell where a photo of Cy Young should be. The title of his post reads "Ranking the Top Ten Pitchers in Yankees v. Red Sox History," when it should have read, "Ranking the Top Ten Pitchers in Yankees History." Three pitchers on his list played for both teams, but 2 of the 3 had considerably more success with the Yankees. While the 3rd had a good run with the Red Sox, he went on to the Yankees and continued to play well. Of the remaining 7 pitchers on Ball's list, 5 were Yankees and only 2 were Red Sox. I guess that's why his BR profile says he's "trying" to make a living in sports journalism.

Dirty Water by The Cancer Sucks Band

2011-03-12T10:18:00.000-08:00

The Cancer Sucks Band performed at "The Rock & Sox Benefit for The Jimmy Fund and The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute" last summer at The Connecticut Yankee when the Red Sox were here to play the Giants in San Francisco for the 1st time in 6 years. Over $1200 was raised for those 2 fine organizations and we're hoping to match that this summer when we expect to stage "The 2nd Annual Rock & Sox Benefit" in late August during the WEEI Telethon. Check back here at Fenway West for more details. In the meantime, if you'd like to make a donation, you can do that on our Rally Against Cancer donation page.

Here's The Cancer Sucks Band performing Dirty Water last summer:

City of Boston and Red Sox slides are folllowed by band shots and credits.

Where are they now: Brian Daubach

2011-03-12T10:17:00.000-08:00

Daubach with Tommy Harper

Brian Daubach spent almost 9 seasons in the minor leagues before getting a crack at the bigs. He played for the Red Sox for 5 seasons (1999-2002, 2004) in a career that spanned 8 years. In 1999 he finished 4th in Rookie of the Year voting with a BA/OBP/SLG/OPS line of .294/.360/.562/.921. He was booted from the MLB Players’ Association for crossing the lines to play as a replacement player during the 1994-95 strike. In 2009 and 2010 he served as a part-time host on a sports-talk radio station and as an analyst during Red Sox telecasts. During those 2 seasons he was also a manager in Nashua, NH and Pittsfield, MA in the indepenndent Canadian-American league.

The Washington Nationals have chosen Daubach to be the manager of their low Class A minor league team in Hagerstown, MD, and should be managing the Nats' 18 yo phenom prospect Bryce Harper (no relation to Tommy) who is expected to start the year there.

To read the complete story, click here.

Runnin' With the Devil~ Hard Times for Boras?

2011-03-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

Evil incarnate baseball agent Scott Boras seems to be falling upon hard times. He hasn't gotten anywhere near his desired salaries for Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez. He couldn't get anywhere near what he wanted for Adrian Beltre. Same thing happened when he was negotiating for Jason Varitek a couple of years ago. And now, Mark Teixeira just dropped him. Yes, it is true. Bleacher Report has a good time with the 2011 shortcomings of Mr. Boras(shole.)

Box score from the past (09.07.1923)

2011-03-10T11:03:00.001-08:00

I dug deep to find the oldest box score from a game in which the Red Sox starting pitcher tosssed a no-hitter. Howard Ehmke did it for the Sox on September 7, 1923 in Philadelphia against the Athletics. These were the post-Babe years, the Red Sox glory days of the early 1900's had come and gone already. There was only 1 name in the entire box score that I recognized- HP umpire Bill Dinneen.

Buchholz tosses 3 eggs at Yanks, Sox win

2011-03-10T11:03:00.000-08:00

Clay Buchholz tossed 3 scoreless innings against the New York Yankees in a Grapefruit League game Friday night. Shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias flashed leather as he was in on 2 double plays, and also went 2/3, drew a walk and scored a run. In desperation, the Yankees' Bureau of Reclamation picked Bartolo Colon up from the scrap heap after getting stiffed by Cliff Lee, (Yeah, go Lee!) But wait! What's this? Colon is actually pitching well? Ooh, in Colon's 2nd start of Spring Training, he threw 3 shutout innings striking out 5 Red Sox. I guess if he's pitching well, he must have lost his appetite, y'think?

Red Sox 5 Yankees 3

Click here for box score and videos of Buchholz, Iglesias and Reddick

Show me the chalupas!

Box score from the past (04.04.01)

2011-03-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

They don't call him the Captain for nuthin'! Jason Varitek has caught 4 no-hitters in his career, a record among all MLB catchers past and present. On April 4th, 2001, he caught his first- Hideo Nomo v. the Baltimore Orioles. The Baltimore line-up included Melvin Mora and Cal Ripken, while Sydney Ponson was the starting pitcher for the O's.

We only have 4 Mondays left before the Season starts, so for these last 4 'Box scores from the past,' I am soliciting suggestions from our readers. If you have a favorite game you would like to see show up here, send an e-mail to r e d s o x s o n o m a ( a t ) y a h o o ( d o t ) c o m . If you don't know the exact date, just tell me as much information you have about the game and I will research it and post it here.

A-Rod says, "I love that dirty leather."

Beckett hit in head by ball

2011-03-06T10:17:00.001-08:00

ESPN is reporting that Josh Beckett was hit in the side of his head today with a ball that was hit by a Red Sox staffer with a fungo bat. He was standing in the outfield when he was struck. Although he was visibly shaken, he did not need to go to a hospital.

Quote of the day

2011-03-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

Dustin Pedroia showing Jose Iglesias how Boston shortstops take cutoffs on balls in right-center field:

"Listen to me, you're with the Red Sox now, and here, I'm Fidel Castro."

Quote of the day

2011-03-04T22:10:00.000-08:00

Mike Scandura brought down the Carl Crawford press conference today when he nonchalantly asked Crawford, "Do you think your stolen bases might go down because you won't be running against the Red Sox?" The thought provoking question is at the 1:16 mark.

Best picture ever?

2011-02-28T20:04:00.001-08:00

I have no idea what I plugged into Google Images when this photo came up, but I liked it so much I had to save it for our readers. Enjoy!

Say bye-bye to the Red Sox home run little Yankee outfielders.

Quote of the day

2011-02-28T20:04:00.000-08:00

“Did anyone watch the Super Bowl?’’

Alex Rodriguez opened his first news conference of the spring with that line. In case you're not into football, he was referring to cameras catching Cameron Diaz feeding him popcorn at the Superbowl.

Seth Lasko of NESN hits the nail right on the head of A-Rod

2011-02-26T12:12:00.000-08:00

Seth Lasko of NESN writes about A-Rod and his admiration of Jose Iglesias. His 1st paragraph of his post today:

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez took a few minutes away from admiring himself in the mirror this offseason to take note of Red Sox shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias.

It's a short post, but I just had to share that paragraph with all of you.

HankWatch- Monday, February 21, 2011

2011-02-26T12:11:00.000-08:00

Hank Steinbrenner continues to make my job easier. Today we get this post from Nick Cafardo of Boston.com:

TAMPA, Fla. - Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner shares Red Sox owner John Henry's view that something needs to be done about revenue sharing in baseball.

Steinbrenner revealed the team contributed about $130 million between revenue sharing and luxury tax, the most of any team in the league and the most, according to Steinbrenner that the team has ever had to contribute. A few days ago, Sox CEO Larry Lucchino indicated the team contributed $86 million. This is obviously a sore subject for the Yankees and Red Sox.

"We've got to do a little something about that and I know Bud (Selig) wants to. There's a way. Obviously we're very much allied with the Red Sox, and Mets and Dodgers and Cubs, in that area. At some point if you don't want to worry about teams in minor markets, don't put teams in minor markets or don't leave teams in minor markets. Socialism, communism is never the answer."

When asked about Boston's spiraling payroll and spending spree this offseason, Steinbrenner said, "John (Henry) is committed to winning as we are. He'll do what he has to do."

He added, "The Red Sox are always gonna be there with the Yankees along with five or six other teams who can win the World Series. This year it's the Phillies. The AL East is an SOB."

Concerning his own team, Steinbrenner said that he sees a hunger returning to the team, the same hunger he saw in 2009.

"In 09 I saw it. Sometimes they celebrated a little too much last year. Some of the players too busy building mansions and concentrating on other things and not concentrating on winning. I have no problems saying that. They've come into this spring with a new hunger and that's what it takes to win."

The one player who built a "mansion" was Derek Jeter.

"I'm not singling anybody out. This year, from what I've seen by our coaches they've come in with a real new drive and determination, the kind they had in '09. I think they felt embarrassed last year. It bothers them."

Concerning the team's inability to acquire a starting pitcher:

"We did. We got Soriano. Everybody's missing the point. We didn't get Lee, but we got the second-best relief pitcher in the American League and now he's the set-up guy."

I tell ya, these Hank posts just seem to write themselves.

Box score from the past (10.15.46)

2011-02-23T16:48:00.000-08:00

Poor Johnny Pesky. Last week I posted about how the Pole came to bear his name, and the tale of him hitting a walk off home run around his pole to give Mel Parnell the victory. But he has a more dubious claim to Red Sox history. In game #7 of the 1946 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Red Sox went up 1-0 in the top of the 1st inning, but fell behind 3-1 by the end of the 5th. They stormed back with 2 runs in the top of the 8th to tie the game. In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Cardinals' Enos Slaughter led off with a single. The next 2 batters were retired, and their manager called for the hit and run. Walker then hits a line drive to Leon Culberson, who had replaced Dom Dimaggio who left the game with an injury. Culberson throws to Pesky for the relay. Pesky either checked Walker at first before firing home, or he was so shocked to see Slaughter dashing for home that he hesitated long enough for Slaughter to make it into home safe. The play has been dubbed 'Slaughter's Mad Dash.' It would be 21 years before the Red Sox made it back to the World Series, and another 37 years after that before a World Series trophy would land in Boston.

Slaughter's Mad Dash

Quote of the Day

2011-02-22T23:07:00.000-08:00

Terry Francona responding to Mark Teixeira's claim that the Yankees are the underdogs in the AL East:

"I don't care. They have a $200 million payroll. They’re not gonna be too underdoggish."

Thanks, and a tip of the cap to Peter Abraham, Boston.com

'Best Red Sox Blog Award'

2011-02-21T13:10:00.001-08:00

The 'Best Red Sox Blog Award' goes to Jared Carrabis and Sox Space for the 2nd year in a row and also won the 'Best New England Sports Blog' as well. The Awards were presented by Comcast SportsNet New England. Carrabis is the Massachusetts Governor of Red Sox Nation. Rafe Anderson of TruFan put the awards night together which was held at Remy's.

Being 3k miles away from the mother ship, I don't think I or Matt or any of us at Fenway West saw this nomination coming. We are honored to have been nominated for 'Best Red Sox Blog,' and mentioned in the same breath as other noteworthy and esteemed Red Sox blogs such as Sox Space, Surviving Grady, and Sox & Dawgs.

Many thanks go to all our readers, too! Thank you all very much for coming back. I can't really say where Fenway West fits in the grand scheme of all things Red Sox, but for me personally, this is strong motivation to continue to write intelligent posts whether they are human interest stories that may fly under the radar elsewhere (or above), Horatian satire, or the daily line-ups and box scores.

I would also like to thank Alex Rodriguez and Hank Steinbrenner for providing Red Sox pundits from the major media all the way down to the last blog with an endless supply of fodder. Gotta give credit where it’s due, eh Hank?

Hank Steinbrenner~ 4000 words

2011-02-21T13:10:00.000-08:00

The Mouth of Hank

2011-02-21T13:09:00.001-08:00

Hank posts just simply write themselves! You can’t make this stuff up!
From ESPN:

"We're gonna be in it every year, every single year. You can't say that about any other team, except maybe the Red Sox. But they weren't in it last year. And the Phillies seem to be keeping it going but how long will that last? The only team you can be assured as long as we own them is going to be in it every single year is going to be us. We're gonna be a major contender to win the championship every year."

"We're in the AL East and anything can happen, but we got a shot. I'm not gonna pick who the best teams are but we're one of them. We got the best bullpen in baseball, we got the hitting, we're gonna be good defensively and the starting pitching hopefully will come around. We think A.J. Burnett will turn it around and all our baseball people like this kid [Ivan] Nova. And Boston's got a lot to prove, too, after last year."

However, when asked if he thought the Yankees were better this season, Steinbrenner hesitated.

"I really don't know. I certainly hope so. We're going to find out. But you can't predict. You just play the games and hope you don't have injuries."

He had been asked about the likelihood that his ace, CC Sabathia, would invoke the opt-out clause in his seven-year, $161 million contract after this season.

"I don't think he will, he's very happy there. He's been very happy there. Now he really knows what it's like to be a Yankee. He's here to stay."

Earlier in the day Sabathia had refused to rule out the possibility, an option that Alex Rodriguez exercised after the 2007 season, only to be rewarded with a contract extension and a raise after Hank Steinbrenner took over the negotiation from his general manager, Brian Cashman, who had advised against it.

File this one under famous last words, folks! Check back for all the Hank-isms that will spew from Da Bronx all season long! Thank you, Hank! You make our jobs s-o-o-o easy!

1958 Red Sox Spring Training West Coast Tour

2011-02-21T13:09:00.000-08:00

1958 saw the Giants and the Dodgers no longer playing in New York, as they had both headed west to San Francisco and Los Angeles. The Red Sox went on a west coast trip that spring to play them in their new homes. (Those 2 new west coast teams would not get new stadia until 1960 for the Giants and 1962 for the Dodgers.) Seal Stadium in San Francisco had been the home of the Red Sox minor league affiliate which won the 1957 Pacific Coast League Championship, and served as the temporary home for the Giants. Harry Hooper and Joe Cronin were on hand to welcome the Red Sox to San Francisco. The Red Sox and Dodgers would play in LA Memorial Coliseum. In 2008, the Red Sox returned to Los Angeles to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Major League Baseball in that city. On March 29, 2008, the Dodgers and the Red Sox played in an exhibition game before 115,300 fans in the LA Coliseum, the largest turnout ever to watch a baseball game. The last stop on the Red Sox west coast trip was in Phoenix, AZ, which was the new home of the Giants AAA affiliate and took San Francisco's place in the Pacific Coast League. NESN provides us with this video highlighting that west coast trip.

Box score from the past (06.11.1950 game 2/2)

2011-02-19T11:31:00.000-08:00

Johnny Pesky is a Red Sox legend. In 2006, the Red Sox officially renamed the right field foul pole "Pesky's Pole". In 2008, the team retired his number, #6, but they broke one of their own rules regarding retired jersey numbers. In order to have one's Red Sox number retired, one must have played 10 seasons with the Sox, be voted into the Hall of Fame, and finished one's career with the Sox. He has 2 of the 3 qualifications, but because of his lifetime commitment to them, he was rewarded by having his number retired.

Although the pole was officially renamed in 2006, the name of "Pesky's Pole" had been coined years earlier. The story goes that Mel Parnell called it that name after Pesky hit 1 of his 17 career home runs in extra innings for a walk off win. But if you dig deeper, you will find that Pesky hit only 6 of those homers were hit in Fenway Park. Dig deeper still and you will find that he only hit 1 home run that he hit while Parnell was pitching, on June 6th, 1950, the 2nd game of a double header that day. If you go just a little bit furthur you will find that that home run was hit in the 1st inning.

Lost in Space

2011-02-15T11:31:00.000-08:00

The year was 1965. "Lost in Space" made its debut on national TV that year.

And the Boston Red Sox pondered building a domed stadium in the South Station area.

The site does not provide any information about this plan other than what appears on the card in the middle picture, nor could any info found on other sites about this plan. Tony Lee of NESN stumbled upon these photos again. All I can say is thank the gods of intergallactic space travel this thing was never built! It makes the Yurt in Florida look good!

Quotes of the day

2011-02-15T11:29:00.000-08:00

Derek Jeter on the Red Sox:

"They added some good players, I would assume that everyone over there is excited. It’s our job to try to beat them."

Master Yoda:

"Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try"

Box score from the past (07.14.56)

2011-02-13T22:21:00.000-08:00

Last week I posted Jon Lester's no-hitter in Box score from the past. We have to go all the way back to 1956 to find the previous no-hitter at Fenway Park pitched by a Red Sox southpaw. Mel Parnell was the last one to do it on July 14 that summer, and it was his last season before retiring. Parnell had an impressive 10 year career spent entirely with the Red Sox. He was a member of the broadcasting crew from 1965 to 1968.

Have you voted for "Best Red Sox Blog" yet?

2011-02-10T11:02:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to vote for Fenway West for 'Best Red Sox Blog' in the New England Sports Blog Awards Presented by Comcast SportsNet New England. You can vote once a day in between now and February 14th. Thanks from Fenway West!

18

2011-02-10T10:10:00.000-08:00

For Dice-K

Pettitte retires

2011-02-08T18:52:00.000-08:00

NY Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte is hanging up his spikes. Pettitte cited a strong desire to be with his wife and 4 kids as the motivation for his decision. Although his body may be ready for 1 more season, his heart said he no longer wanted to pitch for the Yankees.

"I will not pitch this season, I can assure you of that, and I do not plan on pitching again. I think taking the mound every fifth day is over. I am looking forward to this next chapter in my life, and figuring out what that is. I don't want it to be anything except hanging out with my family."

Pettitte announced his decision today in New York. He has 240 regular season victories to his credit in a career that spanned 16 years, as well as 19 post-season victories.

Pettitte after Ellsbury stole home

A-Rod and Cameron: cough! gag! hack!

2011-02-07T18:42:00.000-08:00

Awwww, now ain't that cute... NOT! Fox captured this puppy love shot of Cameron Diaz feeding popcorn to A-Rod at the Superbowl. I'm not a football fan (bunch of oversized genetic freaks of nature), but the 1 game of the year that I might watch, I get to watch Cameron Diaz in all her hotness slumming at the Superbowl. Aren't you glad the Sox got Manny and not this buffoon?

At the House of Fenway West Superbowl Fest, the VW/Darth Vader commercial was voted best commercial.

And now for some more hotness from Cameron Diaz.

Thanks and a tip of the cap to Red at Surviving Grady for the gratuitous jpeg swipe of the A-Rod photo.

VOTE! Don't forget to vote for Fenway West for 'Best Red Sox Blog' in the New England Sports Blog Awards Presented by Comcast SportsNet New England. You can vote once a day in between now and February 14th. Thanks from Fenway West!

UPDATE: Watch the video before it gets flagged.

Fenway Park Snow

2011-02-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

Like you really any more of the white stuff, but if you do, RedSox.com home page has a short video of Fenway Park snow right now.

Quotes of the day

2011-02-06T21:29:00.001-08:00

Theo Epstein on the early days as GM of the Red Sox: The one game losing streaks we have in Boston get a little tough sometimes.... I wouldn't' trade it for anything.

Terry Francona on the early days as manager of the Red Sox: "When we weren't playing very well, I thought my name was 'you suck,' that's all I heard."

Theo Epstein on Francona's early days as manager of the Red Sox: "I didn't think you heard that."

Thanks and a tip of the cap to Steve Silva of Boston.com

Where are they now- Alex Cora

2011-02-06T21:29:00.000-08:00

Alex Cora played a vital role for the Red Sox from 2005-2008 when he played at all 4 infield positions at least once. Prior to 2005, he was the starting 2Bman and back-up shortstop for the LA Dodgers from 1998 to 2004. His batting average ranged from .238 to .270 and his OPS ranged from .609 to .719 during his 300+ games with the Sox. His value wasn’t so much with his bat as it was his glove, as he registered a .982 fielding percentage. He played with the Mets in 2009 and 2010 and signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers in August of last year after the Mets released him.

Alex Cora’s role with the Sox was not unlike that of what Jed Lowrie’s role may be in 2011 as a super-utility player. During his time in Boston, it had been mentioned that Alex Cora would make a good MLB manager some day. He just turned 35, so he may have a couple of years as a player left before he tackles that goal. For now, Alex agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals and has been invited to spring training.

Here’s wishing Alex good luck on pursuing a roster spot with the Nats this year.

You can watch MLB videos of Alex here, here and here.

Sizing up the bullpens

2011-02-05T15:05:00.000-08:00

A couple of days ago we heard that Brian Cashman had conceded that the Red Sox are a better time right now, but that the Yankees have a better bullpen, a remark that I thought would "send Red Sox beat writers and bloggers everywhere scurrying to analyze and compare both fire crews." Well, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal has offered up his analysis of the 2 bullpens with the help of The Bill James Handbook for the 2011 season, which issued these projections for the top 4 relievers on each team:

RED SOX

Jonathan Papelbon, Boston: 69 IP, 2.61 ERA, 76 K, 20 BB

Daniel Bard, Boston: 76 IP, 2.72 ERA, 90 K, 34 BB.

Bobby Jenks, Boston: 49 IP, 3.12 ERA, 48 K, 17 BB.

Dan Wheeler, Boston: 47 IP, 2.87 ERA, 46 K, 16 BB.

YANKEES

Mariano Rivera, New York: 62 IP, 1.89 ERA, 58 K, 11 BB.

Joba Chamberlain, New York: 76 IP, 3.79 ERA, 81 K, 30 BB.

David Robertson, New York: 68 IP, 3.04 ERA, 89 K, 35 BB.

Rafael Soriano, New York: 62 IP, 2.03 ERA, 68 K, 18 BB.

Before ProJo published this, I had been looking into this comparison and had compiled the 2010 statistics of each of those pitchers:

Click on graphic to make larger

I don't think Daniel Bard will pitch 70+ innings in 2011 as James forecast. With Wheeler and Jenks in front of him, he will have a reduced work load this year. I also think that Tito and Theo will want to keep Bard for many years to come, and the best way to do that is to not overwork him in this early part of his career.

Mo is good, great even, but at some point he will start to decline. Will it be in 2011?

Maybe, maybe I give the Yankees a slight edge, but as Cashman himself pointed out, championships aren't won in the winter.

Quote of the Day

2011-02-05T15:02:00.000-08:00

Theo Epstein on the early days as GM of the Red Sox: "The one game losing streaks we have in Boston get a little tough sometimes.... I wouldn't' trade it for anything."

Terry Francona on the early days as manager of the Red Sox: "When we weren't playing very well, I thought my name was 'you suck,' that's all I heard."

Theo Epstein on Francona's early days as manager of the Red Sox: "I didn't think you heard that."

Thanks and a tip of the cap to Steve Silva of Boston.com

Turning the page on the Red Sox - Yankees rivalry

2011-02-04T18:32:00.000-08:00

The signing of Adrian Gonzalez marks the beginning of a new chapter in one of pro sports most fiercest rivalries. Although the Red Sox have won 2 World Series Championships to the Yankees 1 WSC since 2004, it seems as if the Red Sox have always been looking up at the Yankees whether it was in the AL East standings, or in the off season trades.

Looking forward to the 2011 campaign, the Red Sox have managed to rattle the Yankees’ cage with all the talk of offering a contract to Derek Jeter, which would have never happened, but still managed to elicit posts from major media outlets to insignificant fan blogs.

Chad Finn of Boston.com said it best:

All semi-serious snark aside, you know what the best-case scenario is for Red Sox fans? What's happening right now.

To top that, the Red Sox did indeed offer Mo Rivera a 2 year contract forcing the Yankees to sign him to a 2 year deal, what Mo wanted, rather than the 1 year contract initially offered by the Yankees.

And now the Adrian Gonzalez signing has the Yankees talking about chasing Carl Crawford in an attempt to drive up his price when negotiating a potential contract with him. The Yankees have no need for a left fielder. Brett Gardner is a Yankee home groan left fielder that Brian Cashman does not want to give up. If I know this, certainly Theo knows it, as does every baseball writer of any worth across the land.

If the Red Sox land Crawford, the Opening Day line-up could look something like this:

CF Ellsbury (L)

2B Pedroia (R)

LF Crawford (L)
1B Gonzalez (L)

3B Youkilis (R)

DH Ortiz (L)

SS Lowrie (S)

RF Drew (L)

C Salty (S)

(I said ‘could.’ I’m no baseball manager by any means, and I’m sure that this will not be the exact line up, but ‘could’ be close.) In any event, it will be a formidable offensive line-up, better than the 2010 offense which produced XXX home runs and XXX runs scored.

Lester and Buchholz have come of age and will only get better. Beckett, Lackey, Dice-K and Papelbon are due for bounce back years. The Red Sox won 89 games with basically a AAA roster for much of the year. With a healthy roster and 2 wins from Beckett, Lackey, Dice-K and Papelbon, and 1 win from Ellsbury, Pedroia, Gonzalez, and Youkilis puts this line up winning 101 games.

Theo had to give up 3 highly touted prospects and a PTBNL, but the Red Sox farm is quite fertile right now as it is, and only stands to get better with all the draft picks he’s managed to pick up along the way.

A new decade, a new order to the AL East.

Quote of the Day

2011-02-04T14:53:00.000-08:00

Terry Francona on all the snow: “It’s a bit much. The drivers here don’t do good with all four lanes. When it’s down to two, they’re really nasty.”

Thanks, and a tip of the cap to Peter Abraham, Boston Globe

UPDATE: The nominees for the New England Sports Blog Awards were announced last night and Fenway West was nominated for "Best Red Sox Blog." Voting takes place from February 2nd to February 14th and fans can vote once each day. Please take a moment and show your support for Fenway West by following the link below and casting your vote. Thank you for helping make this nomination possible and for your continued support.

http://www.trufan.com/nesb_vote

Box score from the past (05.21.08)

2011-02-02T17:50:00.001-08:00

Jon Lester, cancer survivor, pitches a no-hitter, May 19, 2008.

Theo on the roster- set

2011-02-02T17:50:00.000-08:00

Theo Epstein told Rob Bradford of WEEI, 'We're more or less set,' when asked about the spring training roster. Since the roster is all set, here's a (sort of) funny youtube I found with some Sox content to bide a minute of your time while we wait for P&C .

El Gordo agrees to a minor league deal with the Yankees

2011-01-31T16:04:00.001-08:00

Bartolo 'El Gordo' Colon has agreed to a minor league deal with the New York Yankees. In December, Matt posted that the Yankees were interested in him, and now it appears that the Yankees will indeed be building a new cafeteria just for Colon and Sabathia.

Pujols wants 10 years and $300 million

2011-01-31T16:04:00.000-08:00

Oh Albert, puhleeze! $300 million?! You have GOT to be ~~shi~~ kidding me!

Pujols and his agent Dan Lozano seem to be following pages torn from A-Rod and Jeter’s salary demands playbook, (co-authored by Scott Bora$$) Maybe he just wants to play in Da Bronx? The Yankees are about the only team who would be able to match that demand. The Cardinals may have the wherewithal to pony up that kind of money now, but a contract that size would have to be back loaded so much that it would probably tip the Brinks truck over bassackwards. Surely they will not follow the same path as the Washington Nationals did with Jayson Werth. A contract that size could cripple the Cardinals 6 or 7 years down the road!

If you stay in St. Louis making that kind of money don’t expect to be on a contending team any more. The Cardinals won’t have any room left on their payroll to pay the other 8 guys on the field with you, never mind fielding a team worthy of contention.

Albert, really, just what do you plan to do with $300 million that you couldn’t do with $100m or $200m?