Would You Make This Deal?

Posted by Mike Giardi November 30, 2008 at 4:06 pm

I put this out to you, members of Red Sox Nation. If you could acquire Dodgers catcher Russell Martin for Kevin Youkilis, straight up, would you do it? Keep in mind, Martin will be 25 years old in February,while Youk turns 30 in March. The Sox need a backstop, and LA could use a third baseman to replace free agent Casey Blake. Discuss…

Take a Stand on Teixeira

Posted by Adam Hart November 25, 2008 at 10:07 pm

Signing him would be nice. Or maybe it would be not nice. See, niceness is in the eye of the beholder. You are the beholder. So start beholding. Read more

Media Movement All Over The Place

Posted by Bruce August 15, 2008 at 8:30 am

Last night we learned about the changes at the Globe, which included Tony Massarotti moving over from the Herald, and Chad Finn earning himself a sweet promotion.

This morning, David Scott has more on the move, but also reports on new hires at weei.com, which include Jeff Goodman, Alex Speier and wait for it…Ron Borges.

Ron Borges? 

Seriously? Ken Powers wasn’t available? Mike Barnicle turned them down? Patricia Smith wasn’t interested?

My interest and enthusiasm in their new venture just sunk considerably. They were doing things right all the way up until that point. Michael Felger, Rob Bradford, Goodman and Speier are all relatively young guys who understand how things work in the new age of sportswriting. For the most part they have a fresh perspective on things, and don’t stir up stuff just to get noticed (well, except for Felger.)

Borges throws all that out the window. The quotes from Dennis and Callahan in Scott’s piece are just nauseating. Yeah, I’m sure Bill Belichick is shaking in his shoes at the thought of Borges back in Foxboro. That’s provided of course that he knows how to get there. He hasn’t been seen down there in a long time, even before his (wink wink) retirement from the Globe.

I had high hopes for this new weei.com. Borges just about kills it for me. You hire him, you lose your credibility. Simple as that.

Bad move, guys.

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The Red Sox hitters are surely sorry to see the Texas Rangers pitchers leave town. Boston finished off the sweep of the Rangers with a 10-0 victory at Fenway Park last night. The Red Sox scored 37 runs in 3 games off the Rangers…

Globe beat reporter Amalie Benjamin has the game story. Jeff Horrigan has the Red Sox continuing their hot hitting since the Manny Ramirez trade. Paul Kenyon has the Red Sox finishing off their roundup of the Rangers. Jeff Goldberg has Daisuke Matsuzaka once again letting the runners on, and once again not letting them score. Bob Stern has the Red Sox pounding the Rangers one more time. Garry Brown has more on the demolition at Fenway. Phil O’Neill has another big inning leading the way for Boston.

Tony Massarotti has David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis proving to be a formidable 3-3 combination. Barbara Matson has Ortiz especially sorry to see the Rangers go. Ortiz has regain his power stroke in this series, and even enjoyed an early departure last night. Still, I can’t help but remember the reaction from the media when Pedro Martinez left the ballpark early after a start. I’ve got absolutely no problem with Ortiz (or Pedro) going home early, but it’s interesting to note the difference in reaction. Steven Krasner analyzes the lack of success by the Rangers pitching in this series. Massarotti says that the Blue Jays will provide a much stiffer test for the Boston bats.

Marty Dobrow has a minor league notebook in the Globe, and examines a rash of oblique strains in the Red Sox organization. Rich Thompson’s minor league notebook has Bartolo Colon on the road back to the majors.

Benjamin’s notebook has Jon Lester trying to help out Clay Buchholz. Horrigan’s notebook has Dice-K once again walking a tightrope last night. The ProJo notebook has more on Matsuzaka. Goldberg’s notebook says that Kevin Youkilis is making a case for league MVP. Brown’s notebook has Paul Byrd getting ready for his first Red Sox start tonight. O’Neill’s notebook also makes the case for Youkilis as AL MVP.

Patriots

Over on Patriots Daily, Scott Benson examines whether the Patriots can or will carry five running backs on their roster.

Christopher L. Gasper has a look at the Patriots signing of veteran safety John Lynch. Christopher Price has more on the Lynch signing. Carolyn Thornton says that Lynch could end up being a big presence in the Patriots secondary. Eric McHugh thinks Lynch should fit well here. Jennifer Toland writes that Lynch could fill the void left by Tank Williams being placed on IR. Mark Farinella looks at this year’s carbon-dated addition to the Patriots roster.

Karen Guregian says that adding Dom Capers to the coaching staff might be the best move the Patriots made in the offseason. Thornton has rookie QB Kevin O’Connell doing all he can to learn from Tom Brady. Guregian has more on the rookie learning how to play the position in his first NFL camp. Farinella has a look at Kenny Smith, who gets a feature written about him for the second day in a row. Thompson has punter Chris Hanson secure in his role with the team.

Price tells us what to watch for during Sunday night’s game. Ian M. Clark has a Ruud family reunion on tap for Sunday night. Mike McMahon looks at former Boston Patriot Daryl Johnson going into the Morgan State Hall of Fame.

Gasper’s notebook has Jason Webster getting close to returning to action for the Patriots. Guregian’s notebook has more on the signing of Lynch. Toland’s notebook has Dean Pees talking about some of his young players on defense. McHugh’s notebook examines the impact on he safety depth chart that the Lynch signing will have.

Misc

Steve Bulpett and Marc J. Spears report on the Celtics signing first round pick J.R. Giddens.

Spears also has the United States’ men’s basketball team taking care of business with Greece yesterday.

Mark Blaudschun has a media column on NBC Sports reporter Bob Neumeier. Neumy mentions that WEEI wasn’t “fair” in their contract offer to him, which is why he left his show with Dale Arnold.  

Nuggetpalooza

Posted by Rob Bradford June 26, 2008 at 4:35 pm

Headed for the airport en route to Houston, but wanted to give you some time to digest another round of Nuggetpalooza from Gary from Chapel Hill …

Stats are through Wednesday.  Thanks to Baseball-Reference!
 
* - Jon Lester has now allowed 4 ER or fewer in 22 consecutive starts dating back to last season, the longest active streak in the majors.  Jake Westbrook (18) has the second longest active streak.  The longest streak (since ‘56) by a Red Sox pitcher is 32 starts by Pedro (’99 through ‘00) and Clemens (’90-’91).  It’s interesting that in all 32 starts in Clemens’ streak, Roger allowed THREE earned runs or fewer.   Lester has quite a ways to go to catch the longest streak ever recorded:  106 straight starts by Greg Maddux from 1991 through 1994. 
 
* - Jonathan Papelbon’s K% with the bases empty:  38.6% this year versus 39.0% last year.
 
* - Jonathan Papelbon’s K% with runners on:  25.5% this year versus 34.9% last year.
 
* - Teams have only stolen 5+ bases in a game 8 times all season and the Red Sox claim 3 of them.  No other team has done it more than once.  Before this season, the Red Sox had only stolen 5+ bases in a game six times in the last 50 years (none since 2002).
 
* - The Red Sox have thrown 6 shutouts in 33 interleague games since the beginning of 2007.  That’s the most in the majors (Detroit, 4) during that time.
 
* - On Wednesday, the Red Sox allowed just 4 total bases to the Diamondbacks.  They have now won 24 straight interleague games in which they’ve allowed 8 or fewer total bases (dating back to 2002).
 
* - Last Sunday, the Cardinals’ Aaron Miles had 5 hits, but didn’t score or drive in a run.  It was just the 18th time in at least the last 52 years that it has happened in the major leagues.  It was the 2nd time that it was a Red Sox opponent.  13 of the 18 such occurrences have been by a visiting player.
 
* - Also on Sunday, Kevin Youkilis became the 45th player to have 3 or more multiple HR games in his Red Sox career.  Jim Rice had 35 such games, while David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez have 29 and 28, respectively.
 
* - JD Drew is going to have to rally late to set the June slugging percentage mark.  He is currently at .885, while the top two are Mark McGwire (.915 in ‘96) and Norm Cash (.901 in ‘61).  He still has a great shot at the Red Sox’ June record of .784 (Jackie Jensen, ‘58).
 
* - Since the beginning of 2007, the Red Sox have put up a major league best .859 OPS in the 8th inning when tied or trailing by three runs or less.  Their 5 for 7 performance (with a double) in Tuesday’s rousing comeback is included.  The Rockies (.828) are second and the Yankees (.790) are third.
 
* - Happy 26th anniversary to Mrs. Gary from Chapel Hill!  Maybe we’ll go to a ballgame to celebrate!

Youk does an about face

Posted by Ted McEnroe June 23, 2008 at 9:44 pm

Yesterday, two homers. Today, one of the more unusual injuries we’ve seen in a while for Kevin Youkilis. Youk was warming up in between innings when he mishandled a throw from across the diamond and it deflected off his glove and into his right eye.

The eye swelled like something out of Rocky III, and Youk was pulled from the game. Since Sean Casey started serving his three-game suspension today, the Sox had to turn to Brandon Moss to play first. God love him for trying, but Moss bobbled a grounder that allowed Arizona’s second run to score, although he was able to get the runner at first, and wasn’t charged an error.

Youkilis is day-to-day.

As the Sox turn: Everything’s fine

Posted by Ted McEnroe June 6, 2008 at 4:48 pm

So, after last night’s soap opera and intrigue, here’s the latest:

Manny and Youk say everything’s fine. Manny to media at a Macy’s event today: “Don’t worry about it.”

Jacoby Ellsbury will be OK, and could see pinch running duties tonight, although he might skip BP for the day.

Coco Crisp will be back in the lineup in center - while I’m sure the league office will be reflecting on video from last night as they contemplate punishment for all involved in the melee this weekend.

And Chris Carter, here’s your cup of coffee, now back to Pawtucket. His reward for 2 hits and a couple of nice plays in left field? He gets sent back and the red hot and better defensive outfielder Brandon Moss will get the start in left tonight.

June is busting out all over

Posted by Ted McEnroe June 6, 2008 at 10:34 am

I hate when there’s nothing to talk about.

The last evening in Boston may go down as one of the most exciting in city sports history - in that weird, can-you-believe-what-just-happened kind of way. It’s as though the Celtics and Red Sox are actively vying for attention, each trying to outdo the other.

At the Garden, you had the old rivalry: Celtics-Lakers. At Fenway, a new rivalry: Sox-Rays. What it lacked in big names last night (Shields, Gomes and Crisp sounds more like a low-end law firm), it made up for intensity.

In both places, you had a scary injury moment: Ellsbury with a bad thumb after a diving grab at Fenway, and Pierce - well, we know about Pierce.

And in both, there’s that little bit of intrigue. What the hell were Manny and Youk jawing about? And what if (as some national folks are floating out there) Paul Pierce was putting on some kind of a show for the crowd, and for his teammates? I don’t buy the latter idea for a second. But it does give each team a little something to get the talk show circuits heating up today.

Today maybe we’ll get some more info on Pierce’s knee, Jacoby’s thumb, and Manny, Coco and Youk’s respective heads.

Should be a fun one.

Super 7

Posted by Mike Giardi May 10, 2008 at 8:03 pm

Time for another edition as I wait on this 8:18 Celts/Cavs start.

1) Is there any way LeBron doesn’t go crazy tonight? I kept waiting for it in Game 1. Then again in Game 2. And I’ll be sitting here in sports row tonight wondering when…I repeat…”when” it will happen. I have that much confidence in that guy, even if he’s done less than nothing in this series.

2) How do Red Sox fans feel about Julio Lugo? Check out Sonsofsamhorn.com. When word filtered out that he would miss tonight’s game with a mild concussion, the jokes started flying. I laughed out loud…repeatedly. Check it out, on game threads.

3) Orlando just gakked away a shot at evening their series with Detroit. Up 15 points in the third quarter, the Magic fell apart. No way should Dwight Howard be that quiet. He should be unguardable. That’s not always the case. Maybe its just being a kid. Or maybe he’s got David Robinson disease ( I know. I know. He’s a Hall of Famer, but he wouldn’t have won jack squat without Tim Duncan). But it shouldn’t be happening.  Magic coach Stan Van Gundy is ready to strangle him. Please, no P.J. Carlesimo/Latrell Sprewell jokes.

4) Kevin Youkilis is absolutely on fire. He is now tied for the A.L. lead in home runs (as of early this evening). Who’s running alongside Youk? Hint: a prison, a Husky and an Italian town (answer below).

5) Who’s more frustrating to watch? Dice-K or Lester? I can’t decide, although I’d probably lean to Matsuzaka. He has the stuff - at times - to be great. But most hitters will tell you its not there from AB to AB, let alone game to game.

6) Paps may have blown two straight saves, but the Sox are so settled at that spot. Look at the disasters across baseball this season. Eric Gagne (we knew that was coming), Jason Isringhausen, Huston Street, Trevor Hoffman, Manny Corpas. On and on the list goes. Having that money performer in the pen is the difference between playoffs and no playoffs. Simple as that.

7) Did anyone catch the Sports Illustrated article on Matt Ryan a couple of weeks ago? Peter King penned the piece, and there are some suspect quotes from Ryan’s new teammates in Atlanta. Makes me wonder if its gonna work there. If I’m part of that new brass for the Falcons, I’m purging my team of every Mike Vick supporter. Heck, the guy ruined your season, and screwed up your franchise. Standing by him now only makes you look stupid, not disloyal.

Answer to the A.L. HR Leaders: Carlos Quentin, Carlos Pena and Mike Napoli. What a trio that is!