Boston Red Sox

th a match-up between the defending World Series champion New York Yankees and their arch rival the Boston Red Sox.  This is, hands down, the best rivalry in sports.  The series didn't go the way I wanted it to, but we did get our first win against the Yankees under our belt and the games were well played for the most part.  Hey, when you think about it last year the Sox won the first 8 games against the Yankees only to lose 9 out of the next 10 so maybe losing 2 out of the first 3 ain't bad.

Continue reading "Sox Begin 2010"

There’s been a lot of griping recently over the state of Boston sports, serving (for me) as another ugly reminder of the developing, spoiled and cocksure nature of fans in this area. Let’s take a quick look, shall we?

Continue reading "A Message to Boston Sports Fans"

Oh man, it’s been a bit too long and I’d like to apologize, first and foremost, to my legion of loyal readers. Who still checks in on occasion? Rogers? You still out there? Bark twice if you’re in Milwaukee!  Slim Bob? Herman? Dalton? Petey? Reginald? David Lefort from the Boston Globe? Fat chance of that… bastard…  Am I writing to myself here? Hello?

Continue reading "Checking In... And Talking Sox Shortstop Situation"

Its recently been brought to my attention that, over the past couple of weeks or so, my readership has doubled in volume, from 2 to 4. Thanks to these good natured and sympathetic followers, I’m left to wrestle with a serious question: Do I quit while on top (never had I anticipated the blog becoming this great a success), or do I continue to dribble out these “bi-weekly” blunderbusses, even though there is likely nowhere to go from here but down?

Continue reading "Late Night Rant"

 Last Night B. Penny and the Sox came out on a mission and that was to break this losing streak and they did. But I personally was more concerned about our hitting. After getting swept by the Yankees in a 4 game series which has not happened in over 20 years, I wasn't concerned about our pitching (except Smoltz which the Sox dealt with after that 1st game massacre and giving up 9 earned, they put him on assignment) I was worried about our line-up.

Continue reading "Red Sox Get Much Needed Win and End ..."

MLB Boston Red Sox; Beckett goes for his 12th win, close but no Support!!
The Red Sox had lost 3 in a row and went into this game versus the Texas Rangers with their ace Josh Beckett on th

Continue reading "Red Sox Fall Out of First Place"

Clay Buchholz Would get his First Start of the Year- and it would be a good one.

 This being the first game since returning from the all-star break the Sox looked to stay in command in the East.  Not knowing if Beckett and Wake would pitch in the all-star game(which they didn't and I personally thought they really should have got Wake in the game)so they made this move. The Sox brought up Clay Buchholz (7-2 in minors this year) for this one start knowing no matter how good he did, he would be sent back to the minors after the game. This did not matter to Clay Buchholz, he came out gunning, he threw 103 pitches, only allowed 4 hits and 1 earned run and had 3 strikeouts--Nasty!!  He went into the 6th and was relieved by Bard who ended the inning and looked great also. Makes you think should we keep Clay up here and sit Smoltz, what does Sox Nation think??? Log in and let me know!!!

Continue reading "Buchholz Gets First Win"

Boston Red Sox Bullpen Blows a 9 Run Lead!!
So last night the 42 year old John Smoltz would get his second start of the year!!  In the last game he pitched he gave up 3 runs in the first inning, but then he was lights out. So I believe it was because it was his the first start and 1st inning jitters, so I didn't know what to expect. Well he was on point again and looked great. He only gave up 3 hits, 1 earned run and had 2 strikeout-- awesome! But the story is far from over. Meanwhile the Red Sox bats looked like they where going to explode, scoring 9 runs giving Smoltz a 9-1 lead, but that's when the rain came and this was big trouble for Smoltz and the Sox.(rain always seems to be trouble for the Sox).

Continue reading "BoSox Bullpen Blows a 9 Run Lead!!"

  J. Lester and the Sox traveled to Baltimore last night to play the Orioles in what would be the Lester show. He has been amazing in his last 6 starts he hasn't giving up no more than 3 runs and has 4 wins and 48 strikeouts, Awesome!

Continue reading "Lester Amazing Again"

These days, going to a baseball game isn't what it used to be. Seldom will a pitcher throw into the 7th inning; the score is usually 7-6 or 10-9; and your favorite slugger is likely to hit one, if not two balls, out of the park. The game is shamelessly jacked up on HGH, and its obvious. The best hitter (Bonds) and pitcher (Clemens) of our generation used it, and more players are getting busted by the day (A-Rod, Manny). However, most fans don't care. They still go to the ballpark. That's because baseball, and pro sports in general, is merely another form of entertainment.

Continue reading "Rampant Steroid Use Brings Up Issue ..."

What do you do with David Ortiz? Here's a guy who has bled Red Sox red (note to self: this doesn’t work) for the better part of his career. He is arguably the greatest clutch hitter in team history. Would the Sox have won two World Series rings without him? Surely not.

Continue reading "What to do with David Ortiz?"

Beckett Pitches 6 1/2 innings of Hitless Ball, But Tigers still make it interesting!
Sox came out last night looking ready to go and wanting this win. The Sox were on a mission to beat the Central Division's 1st place team, the Tigers!!  They started off like that to-- Pedroia led off the game with a hit, then JD Drew would hit his 200th career home-run and the Sox took an early 2-0 lead. The score would remain like this because Beckett was lights out!!  It wasn't until the 5th inning when the Sox would score 2 more runs making the score at 4-0 and Beckett still hitless and looking like a machine!!  Then in the 7th inning with 2 outs, Beckett faced C. Granderson and with a 1-2 count Beckett went for the corner of the plate and Granderson slapped it to right field for the Tigers' 1st hit of the game and ending Beckett's no hitter!!!  He would strike out the next batter, so after 7 innings the Tigers were down 4-0 and the Sox heading up to bat and this is when the game got even more interesting. The Red Sox came out in the top of the 8th like they were pissed for blowing the no hitter (even though it was no ones fault, that's just baseball) and would go through the entire line up with the Sox adding 6 more runs  making the score 10-0!!!! Every Red Sox starter ended with at least 1 hit including Big Papi who hit a 2-rbi double, so maybe this new lineup is working, scoring 10 runs and having 13 hits, solid!!  So you would think its over now, but like I said Detroit wanted to make it interesting and when Beckett came back out for the 8th then things ended up getting a little rough. B. Inge of the Tigers led off with a double off Beckett (only 2nd hit and that's all he allowed) then he would hit the next batter, and then the errors started. On a double play ball Pedroia missed Green leading to Detroit's 1st run and men at 1st and 2nd. So Francona came out and took out Beckett bringing in Bard. Beckett went 7.2 innings and only gave up 2 hits. He would still be charged for 2 earned, but he had 9 strikeouts- -Sick!!! Bard would have a little trouble, his 1st pitch was hit to Lowell and he would fumble the ball for another error and another run. Now with the score 10-2, still in the 8th with bases loaded when Granderson again does damage and hits a triple scoring 3 more, but then Bard was able to stop the bleeding after 5 runs were scored and 3 errors all in that one inning!!! Now with a 10-5 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th, somehow Sox relievers would give up a hit and 2 walks loading the bases, a little scary let me tell you. It was 10-0 now it's 10-5 and the Tigers had the bases loaded!! The next Sox reliever, Saito, comes in with the bases loaded and he would be able to close the door and give Beckett the Win he deserved. Final score: Sox 10--Tigers 5.  Meanwhile the Yankees lost, so with our win we move into a tie for first place with NY, Sweet!!! Beckett has looked like his old self for last 3 starts and the Sox are looking good taking 2 out of 3 so far with game 3 tonight.  Come on Sox get the Sweep, you can do it.  

Continue reading "Boston Back in First Place"

The Red Sox went into Minnesota and lost the first and third games of the series and won the second; and then we took the fourth, so not bad for playing the Twins at their house. Four game series are

Continue reading "Split Series for the Red Sox, but ..."

Dice-K made his second start since coming off the DL, and he pitched good, but not great. Dice went 5 innings, threw 102 pitches, allowed 9 hits leading to 3 earned runs and he had 6 strikeouts!!  So it wasn't a great start for 5 innings, but not bad for his 2nd start since being hurt and if he had some run support, he might have got the win. Last night was a really slow game, the Sox only had 6 hits all game, Lowell and Ellsbury both had 2, Bay hit another homer(#13 Wow!) and Pedroia had the last hit and that was all the offense the Red Sox could produce tonight!!If we are going to win close games we need to have more hits leading to more opportunities. The Sox had a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the 3rd and that's when Minnisota struck for 3 runs, with a walk, a single and back to back doubles giving the Twins a 3-1 lead and that's all they needed for the win.  Everyone in the Twins starting lineup had a hit except for the 8th and 9th hitters, and it will always be hard if you give the other team so many chances!! The other thing that's killing me is-- David Ortiz, 0-3 again and he just looks off. I watched the pre-game and Orbig Papi was drilling Home runs, so I am guessing his slump is in his head. The Sox really need him back to his old self and everyone in Sox Nation hopes this doesn't last much longer. Well the good news is Dice is back and the Red Sox are still in first place even with the ups and downs Sox Nation has seen. So we lose to Slowey who is now 7-1, he only allowed 2 runs all night.  Nathan came in behind him and got the save(his 8th) and the Twins beat the Sox 4-2.  The series finale is this afternoon at 1:00EST and hopefully we can leave with the win and a tied series!!!!  Let's Go Sox!

Continue reading "Red Sox Close, but No Cigar or Win!!"

This is just not the Celtics' year. Last night's game 7 looked like a game 4 in a 3-0 series. The Celtics came out without their energy, all out of sync. Clearly, they missed KG. Ray Allen, who we needed to step up, finally did, but he was the only one who showed up to play. Meanwhile, Orlando 21-13 from three point land, was just too much to handle and every shot they took led to me biting my nails off and praying for a comeback that never came. This game was a tough one for Boston to handle; we were losing all game and never made the run that they usually can.

Continue reading "The Celtics Lose Game 7 and Boston ..."

Steroids has officially gone postal.

The list of all-star players who have been revealed to be using steroids: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada, Alex Rodriguez, now.......MANNY RAMIREZ.

Continue reading "Manny being Manny: The Latest twist ..."

The Sox are going to have a difficult time making the playoffs this year. I’m no sucker for the Jays quick start (they’ll start to slip once they deal Roy Hallady and realize Marco Scutaro is starting at shortstop) but I think the rest of the American League is better than most pundits allow.

Continue reading "Breaking down your 2009 Red Sox (in context)"

     As a fan of the Boston Red Sox living in enemy territory it was hard for me to see my boys come down here to Florida and lay an egg like they did.  They had just recently had an 11 game win streak snapped and then started a new one before proceeding to lose 3 out of 4 to the then last place Rays.  Growing up I watched a lot of Notre DameFighting Irish football games as my Dad was a big fan.  I still watch a lot of Fighting Irish football games come to think of it, but I'll eleborate more on that elsewhere. 

Continue reading "Play Like A Champion Today"

At this point, Alex Rodriguez could be accused of drowing puppies in a bucket of children's tears, and it would barely register on my radar screen.

Nothing I hear about this guy can shock me.

Since it came to light in February that A-Rod used performance enhancing drugs from 2001 to 2003, he has been made a pariah, representing everything that is wrong with professional baseball. He was supposed to be baseball's last remaining light, the golden boy who was supposed to break Barry Bonds' home run record without the help of a single supplement. Many considered the steroid era in baseball to be over - all the heavy hitters had been chased from the game, and there was a new policy in place to punish those who did test positive. The new era of hitters (Pujols, Howard, Ortiz, Texiera) were doing it without steroids, and A-Rod was supposed to be the poster child.

Continue reading "The continuing s*** show that has ..."

The American sports landscape has been continually tattooed with dynastic labels like “Team of the Year” or “Team of the Decade.”  The NFL in particular has been defined each decade by a juggernaut winning …. a lot.  The dominance of franchises like the 70’s Steelers, the 80’s Niners, the 90’s Cowboys, and the Patriots of the new millennium has immortalized the likes of Bradshaw, Aikman and Montana to deific status.  The NBA has also provided its share of dynastic runs from the Celtics to the Lakers to the Pistons to the Bulls, and examples abound exist in both hockey and baseball as well. 

Continue reading "Bruins Cup could give Boston Most ..."

Alex "A-Roid" Rodriguez has to be one of the dumbest athletes in modern sports. He's getting paid $33 million per year, as part of a 52-year contract, so he's set for life. Yet he resorts to using steroids. Why? He clearly has it all. He's already on pace to break Bonds' home-run "record." Besides that, he's known as the best offensive hitter in the game, when healthy. The staff and myself racked our brains over why the slugger feels he needed the extra edge. Having been stumped, we came up with 10 reasons why he doesn't need steroids, in hopes of convincing the vain ballplayer to lay off the juice.

Continue reading "Top 10 Reasons why Alex "A-Roid" ..."

As I watched Jacoby Ellsbury steal home against the Yankees Sunday night, I thought to myself: "This pretty much sums it up." An aging Andy Pettitte forgets to deliver from the stretch, letting a youthful Ellsbury elude another future Bingo regular, Jorge Posada's, tag at the plate. Would Justin Masterson have made the same error? The two ballclubs could not be headed in more opposite directions. Every year, the Red Sox seem to call up another hyped prospect, while the Yanks continue to overpay for limited talent, and shun their farm system.

Continue reading "Red Sox continue to steal away Yanks' future"

A lot of people have their proverbial panties in a bunch over Josh Beckett’s high-and-tight pitch in the first inning of Boston’s game against Los Angeles on Easter Sunday. Pundits, fans of other Major League clubs and even some who root for the Red Sox have labeled Beckett’s "misfire" as dirty, dangerous and suspension worthy. I say, relax people, stop being so sensitive. Boston’s ace was doing what his pitching brethren have taught him through the decades. Beckett was sending a message. You can call it archaic, but it’s part of America’s pastime.

Continue reading "Beckett Simply Keeping with Tradition"

Hello there.  We are about an hour away from the second game against the Rays.  It’s lefty versus lefty tonight at the Fens!  Jon Lester will take the mound and challenge Scott Kazmir to an old fashioned pitchers duel - hopefully.  Rocco will get the start in right and let Drew take the night off from facing the lefty.  I am psyched to see Rocco!  

Continue reading "Play Ball!!!"

AL Wild Card: New York Yankees; AL Champion: Boston Red Sox

2. In the National League, the wildcard situation is a bit more complicated – I’ve been spending the last week and a half avoiding this decision. Presuming New York, Chicago and Los Angeles finish atop their divisions, Arizona, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Philadelphia (not in that order) are the serious contenders for that coveted fourth postseason spot. I realize I also listed four teams as potential wildcard winners in the AL, but I don’t think anyone will truly give the Yankees a race and they’ll take the wildcard by eight or more games. The Reds because of their pitching, and the Cardinals because of Albert Pujols and the possible resurgence of Chris Carpenter will make a run, but in the end they’ll be the final two teams to fall short. It comes down to the D-Backs and Phillies, and, I’m going with...Philadelphia (I just went back and forth for the last 30 minutes). Although the Phillies made the playoffs last season because the Mets collapsed, they did so with Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins dealing with independent issues, and they ended up winning the World Series. On paper, the team appears too talented to not play its way into October where it will lose in the first round and watch from home as New York defeats the Cubs in seven games in the NLCS. In a rematch of the 1986 Series, the Red Sox will get their revenge because of their aforementioned stellar pitching front to back. NL Wild Card: Philadelphia Phillies; NL Champion: New York Mets; World Series Champion:

Continue reading "The Sports Don's Sunday Musings: ..."

The National League has four legitimate contenders for the World Series, and two of those clubs reside in the NL East. Along with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, the New York Mets and incumbent champion Philadelphia Phillies are the league’s elite. The Florida Marlins and Atlanta Braves should have respectable seasons while the Washington Nationals battle with the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates for the label of most horrendous team in the league.

Continue reading "The Sports Don's 2009 NL East Preview"

The National League West is not a division too many people are getting overly excited about entering the 2009 season. The return of Manny Ramirez to Los Angeles has made the Dodgers the division’s lone true contender for the World Series. Arizona will go as far as its pitching takes it, which could be far, but other than that, there’s not a whole lot to pontificate upon. Yet, somehow, I still managed to write 1,383 words.

Continue reading "The Sports Don's 2009 NL West Preview"

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won the American League West by 21 games in 2008, a margin 13 1/2 games wider than the next largest difference which was the Chicago Cubs’ 7 1/2 game lead over National League Wild Card winner Milwaukee. With the departures of some key Angels and the acquisitions of some big name players by the other teams in the West, the race will tighter, but don’t expect Texas, Oakland or Seattle to leapfrog Los Angeles who should capture their fifth division title in six years.

Continue reading "The Sports Don's 2009 AL West Preview"

It’s Day Two of The Sports Don’s 2009 Baseball Preview, and I present perhaps the toughest division in baseball to predict. The American League Central could finish in any order, and I wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprised. And yes, that includes the upstart Kansas City Royals winning the division for the first time since 1985 when George Brett was 32, and the Royals defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.

Continue reading "The Sports Don's 2009 AL Central Preview"

After a J.D. Drew-like stint on the disabled list of blog writing, I, like baseball, have returned. For real this time. Let me begin by expressing my sincerest apologies to my readers whom I promised a return to the spotlight weeks ago only to vanish like a ninja once again. Thanks as always for your support and readership. Without getting too mushy-gushy, welcome to the first of a seven-part series previewing each division, day by day, leading up to an all encompassing culmination piece on opening night next Sunday.

Continue reading "The Sports Don Returns with His 2009 ..."

I thought that Josh Bard would be here a little longer this time. By signing him for a second time, I figured Bard would rebound and be that back-up catcher that Boston needs so badly. I was hoping that he would thrive this season and totally redeem himself from that awful stint in 2006. He never made it through spring training. On Wednesday, the Red Sox placed the 30-year old catcher on unconditional waivers, one day before he would have made a guaranteed $340,000. Instead, the Sox are only required to pay him $283,333. This move leaves the door wide open for George Kottaras.

Continue reading "Anyone Seen My Josh Bard?"

Mikey is back and looks good – Mike Lowell was in the lineup last night against the Yankees, holding down the four spot in between Ortiz and Drew.  That is a pretty solid 3-4-5 if you ask me.  Mikey had his first fielding opportunity of the spring in the first inning which turned into an inning-ending double play.  He then led off in the second inning and took a high fastball from Chien-Ming Wang deep over the left field fence for a solo shot.  Lowell hit a single later in the same inning as the Sox batted through the lineup and tallied 7 runs. 

Continue reading "A Few Sox Saturday Updates"

I figured I would take a little peak at the battle for shortstop this season and see where each guy stands.  As of March 12, Jed Lowrie and Julio Lugo seem pretty even – on paper anyway.  Jed has played in two more games than Julio and thus has four more plate appearances, giving him a total of twenty four chances to produce at the dish.  While they both have nine hits, two doubles and four RBI’s, Lugo is hanging on to a better OBP and AVG (.478/.450).  I like the fact that Lugo has a nice OBP right now because of his speed.  If he can find himself on the base paths, he’s no doubt a threat to score every time.  Lowrie, however, is hitting the ball well, with two 3-baggers and a slugging percentage of .625!  Right now Lowrie is leading the spring squad in triples.  Nice.

Continue reading "Checking in With the Lugo and Lowrie Situation"

While the U.S. lost this evening, our fearless Sox hitters in the line up did not do so well.  Pedroia was 0 for 5 and now carries an average of .125 in the WBC.  Youk went 0 for 4 with a walk and a strike out and left 2 men in scoring position.  Oh well. 

Continue reading "United States Loses to Venezuela - 03/11/2009"

I have to admit, this edition of The Sports Don’s Sunday Musings was harder for me to compile than the previous two weeks. Maybe it’s because I’m still bull over Steven the Black Jack Dealer cheating me out of all of my money at Foxwoods or perhaps it’s because I’m trying to remember to DVR Dark Days in Monkey City. Either way, I still managed to ramble on especially long this weekend so I’ll keep the words typed in the remainder of my intro to a minimum...here it is.

Continue reading "The Sports Don's Sunday Musings: Volume III"

“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make, you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.” – Matthew 7: 1-3

Yes, that’s correct. I just quoted the Bible. Enjoy it, because the only other biblical reference I’ll make is when I inevitably tell the story of how Larry Bird created the world in six days and rested on the seventh to watch Tom Brady win the Super Bowl. The reason I’m recruiting an Apostle is because I want to show each and every one of my readers that I’m not messing around. Enough is enough. We’re a forgiving culture. Let’s check ourselves before we wreck ourselves.

Continue reading "Sympathy for the Steroid Devils"

As a citizen of Red Sox Nation, it is my duty to hate everything Yankees, from the Yankee Way, to attempting to buy championships, their players, and even vertical pinstripes. 

But I get a huge sense of relief to see third baseman Alex Rodriguez quickly admit to taking performance enhancing drugs. For once a high profile baseball player that denied P.E.D. use didn’t answer an accusation with another denial. 

Continue reading "A-Rod's Apology Feels A Little Dirty"

One of the great things about sports is that every week fans are provided with a plethora of new topics to think about and discuss. Along with my other posts, starting today, and continuing every Sunday for the foreseeable future, I am going to supply my readership with an opportunity to peer inside my oversized cranium and take a peek at what I’m mulling over.

Continue reading "The Sports Don's Sunday Musings"

Everyone loves a puppy, and in Boston, every fan loves Jason Varitek.

His deadline to accept or decline the Red Sox’ contract offer is swiftly approaching, and soon all will know if the captain is returning for his 13th season. Boston fans want the stalwart catcher back in a bad way, predicting the pitching staff will crumble without him and insisting last season’s subpar batting average was a direct result of the demise of his marriage. The Sox are interested, but only on their terms. The Boston brass will not bend or break to assure Tek’s return, and regardless of the contract’s details, a return would be advantageous for both parties.

Continue reading "Much Ado About Varitek"

ing is less than a month away, and for the first time in more than a decade, it seems as though the Boston Red Sox may be facing a new season without their captain, Jason Varitek.  This is just wrong, and although he'll be 37 in April and his offensive production has dipped dramatically in recent years, the Red Sox still need number 33 behind the plate come April.  Anything else would be a travesty, plain and simple.

Continue reading "Rightful Place"

The Yankees have gotten their holiday gifts early this year with starting pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. I could rant and rave about how Stienbrennerclaus had to spend oodles of cash in order to bring New York some holiday cheer but the fact remains; the Yanks just hauled in the top two free agent pitchers on the market. Now that the Bronx Bombers aren't using Sidney Ponson as their number three man in the rotation we can expect them to once again be pushing towards playoff glory in the dominate A.L. East. As a Red Sox fan I can't help but be upset in losing both these arms so let's look towards the bright side. 

Continue reading "The Death Star was Rebuilt and so ..."

It's truly a shame in the modern era of baseball to see a player like Jason Varitek as just part of business. Call me a traditionalist but I'm a big fan of any player who gives his loyalty to one s

Continue reading "Oh Captain, My Captain"

The first domino - and a hefty domino it was - in the free-agent pitching puzzle fell this morning, with the announcement that C.C Sabathia took a seven-year offer from the Yankees. And with it came news that the Red Sox, apparently, are "very much involved" in discussions with former Marlin and Blue Jay hurler A. J. Burnett.

Continue reading "Burnett to Boston? Thanks, but no thanks"

worked really well for the 2007 Colorado Rockies as they waited to start the World Series. The Boston Red Sox used the momentum of winning a seven-game American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Indians to sweep the Rockies. Ty could play by himself all he wants, but it doesn't compare to actual games.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 11"

It is time for the Boston Red Sox to move on from Mike Lowell. The 2004 World Series MVP has performed greatly for the Sox in his three seasons with the team amassing 58 HRs, 273 RBI and a b

Continue reading "Adios To Mike Lowell"

I know, I know, you're as sad and distraught as I am about the elimination of the Red Sox at the hands of the tampa Bay Rays.  Actually, if that is true, then you must be feeling ok, because I'm really not that torn up about it.  If this were five years ago, I'd still be in bed crying myself to sleep and cursing the universe for conspiring against me and playing such a cruel joke on a desperate fan. 

Continue reading "Silver Linings Galore"

Baseball is an amazing game: You spend six months falling in love with 25 guys you've never met, spend almost 200 nights tuning in to see how they do, and then with one half-swing by J.D. Drew it's all over.

Continue reading "Warming up the hot stove"

Another year, another baseball season in the books. This one didn't end the way we all would have liked, but like the old saying goes, you can't win 'em all. As they all are, this season was defined by some transcendent moments, some goofy moments, and some moments that made you question your sanity.

Continue reading "The 2008 Red Sox - defining moments"

It took CB Deltha O'Neal a day to talk to the media after the nightmare game against San Diego. He needed to sleep off the memory of getting beaten downfield a few times by the Chargers receivers.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 7"

With a comeback of historic proportions in game five, the Boston Red Sox forced the series to a game six in Tampa Bay. In my mind, this will be the deciding game of the series. Obviously, the series is over if Tampa wins, but I believe if the Red Sox are victorious tonight, they will not only have stolen all of the momentum the Rays had after being seven outs away from the first World Series berth in franchise history, but the Sox will have watered and nurtured the seed of doubt they planted in the young, inexperienced minds of the Tampa Bay Rays in game five into a full-grown tree. Game seven, at that point, will be a foregone conclusion and that proverbial tree of doubt will bare fruit for the Red Sox. But what are the odds of the Red Sox carrying their new found momentum into Tropicana Field where they have only won two of eleven games this season? It will all be decided by the right arm of Josh Beckett. He is the epicenter of what will be a season changing game for the

Continue reading "Game Six is Game Seven"

Hello!  I just wanted to take this time and introduce myself to anyone reading this...

I'm a 22-year old graduate of the University of Maryland-College Park (GO TERPS!) and while there I was the Assistant Sports Director at the campus radio station, WMUC.  The time I spent at WMUC was amazing, as I was able to be a play-by-play announcer for numerous ACC Football, Basketball and Baseball games.  Play-by-play announcing is what I've wanted to do for many years now, and the excellent journalism program at Maryland was the main reason why I attended the university.  If you are at all interested, you can listen to my play-by-play demos at my "official" website: www.ScottSudikoff.com.

Continue reading "Welcome to my blog! Here's a little about me..."

This is it. (Up to) three do or die games for the Olde Towne Team.

On the one hand - they've been here before. This is the same team who took us to the brink in 2004, getting beaten like a red-headed stepchild in Game 3 of the ALCS only to come storming back to win the next 8 games in a row. This is also the team that won Game 1 of the ALCS last year, lost the next 3, then went on an absolute tear and erased any doubts that they were the best team in the MLB. The core guys from those two teams are still here, and they've got a flair for the dramatic. There's no telling what could happen.

Continue reading "The fate of 2008 hangs in the balance..."

Last night the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers to advance to the World Series. All congratulations to the Phillies, but I am disappointed. I am a Red Sox fan, so even though

Continue reading "I Miss The OCD"

Don’t take this the wrong way, but I like a little violence, in sports that is. I think most people who like sports agree. The biggest reactions from spectators usually occur after a big coll

Continue reading "Violence Has It's Place"

estion is why? We’re in the middle of an exciting playoff game between the defending champion Boston Red Sox and the best story in baseball Tampa Bay Rays and this guy is standing there i

Continue reading "Craig Sager?"

As much as the 2004 Boston Red Sox season will forever stand out in my mind, the 2005 campaign lingers, as well. And for an entirely different reason.

The Red Sox were clearly dealing with a season-long World Series hangover in 2005, and I was therefore afflicted by the same disease. It was difficult not to be. Most of the games were lifeless, and the fans at Fenway seemed to be drunk enough on one World Series that it didn't matter that the team was supposed to be competing for another. As a fan, this was particularly disturbing - coming off the most intense six months of fandom in my lifetime, when every day literally revolved around the Red Sox and my mood changed sometimes with each pitch, I expected to be twice as ravenous. But I couldn't find the hunger. It was nothing tangible; the season just felt different. In a bad way.

Continue reading "Back for more"

I don’t know why, but it occurred to me the other day that clothing really changed sports. In ancient Rome, sports were played in the nude. Seriously. That’s probably why there were no

Continue reading "Thank Goodness for Uniforms"

I don't know if it's just me, but the playoffs never seem to officially start until the Sox play a game at Friendly Fenway. I mean, I watched the games in LA - or LA of Anaheim, or Anaheim in LA, or Anaheim in LA of California, United States - and came away psyched that the Sox were up 2-0, but it didn't have that playoff feel. It just felt like a road trip to the west coast. Maybe it was the fact that the glamorous LA fans were eating sushi off of asian-influenced rectangle plates instead of toting a steamed dog in one hand and a $7 Coors Light in the other. I don't know.

Continue reading "Feeling Fenway"

I'd rather wait until I re-watch the game, but that won't happen until tomorrow morning. For now, I just want to say a few things before the Red Sox eliminate the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim:

There were two things that QB Matt Cassel did that I really liked. 1. He threw the ball away. That throw-away was during a first half drive that reached the red zone. Instead of forcing a pass into coverage or holding on too long and taking a sack, he avoided a negative play. It kept the team in position to come away with some points, a K Stephen Gostowski field goal. 2. Matt tucked the ball and ran. Though he only gained five yards on four carries on the day, developing the feel of when to abandon the play and get as many yards as possible will be valuable in the long run. It may be the first step towards gaining that sixth sense known as pocket presence.

Continue reading "Quick review"

ainly is a familiar tune.  It must be October (there’s only one, you know!), because the Boston Red Sox just wrapped up another postseason smack-down in Los Angeles Anaheim, California.  Even though the final score was only 4-1, this loss seemed to be especially demoralizing for the Angels, who for the tenth (!) straight time lost to the Red Sox in the postseason.

Continue reading "Same as it Ever Was"

I went to Fenway for the first time in a dog's age the other night and watched the Sox lose to Cleveland on a series of Jed Lowrie missed-opportunities. While the outcome was unfavorable, Fenway has not lost any of its charms or ambiance. Allow me to paint a quick sketch, if you will..

Continue reading "Thoughts on Fenway..."

Some playoff thoughts to chew on as we wait for the playoffs to start late enough on Wednesday that it's almost Thursday ...

I am hoping I can keep my eyelids open to the final pitch, but given the way playoff baseball goes - you know, with the commercials and the pitching changes and the commercials and the mound meetings and the commercials and the stategy and the commercials - I'm not so confident I'll make it through. Besides, I'm reminded of the last time I stuck out a 10 p.m. start to the finish. It was the first game of the ALDS in Oakland in 2003, and I fought sleepiness and ruined any chance of being productive the following day only to see Derek Lowe give up a walk-off bunt single in extras. I'm not sure I can take that again.

Continue reading "After my bedtime"

Wouldn't you know it, in the midst of my involuntary sarcastic wise cracks about Jason Giambi's facial hair and all things Yankee on Sunday night, I actually got a little emotional about the closing of Yankee Stadium.

Continue reading "Before they blow it up ..."

Can I stop listening to Curt Schilling now? Please?

Is it alright with Red Sox Nation if we all stop listening to Big Schill? Does anything he says really matter anymore? I mean, the guy has sounded off on Barry Bonds, Kobe Bryant, steroids, Roger Clemens ... and during that time he's thrown exactly zero pitches. So why are we paying attention?

Continue reading "Is there a public appearance DL?"

Lost in the shuffle of Matt Cassel beating Brett Favre in the most hyped Week 2 game in years around these parts on Sunday afternoon, Jon Lester continued his march toward becoming a truly elite pitcher by outdueling a man largely respected as perhaps the best hurler in the AL, in a game the Sox needed to have. Any question marks that surrounded Lester at the All-Star break have been officially converted into exclamation points. In fact, pencil him in for Game 2 right now - it doesn't matter who we are playing or what Daisuke's record ends up being ... Lester's earned the spot right behind Beckett in the playoff rotation.

Continue reading "Q & A ... well, at least some Qs"

It seems I can't post a comment in response to John Keller's diatribe (entitled Boston Red Sox: Masters of the Mediocre) because I'm not a member of the New York Yankees site, and I refuse to defile myself in such a way as to sign up for it. So here is my simple response to his over-caffeinated, ill-timed (given the Yankees utter futility this season) and strangely aggressive post.

Continue reading "The Tables Have Turned"

beloved long-running television drama, I feel like I'm looking through a one-way window at the Boston Red Sox. Indeed, I fear the word "lineup" has taken on a conotation with a decidedly more law enforcement feel at this point. "Mr Francona, take a look at these men and tell me if you recognize anyone."

Continue reading "Law and Order"

If you told me the following facts before the season began - that Jon Lester would be the Red Sox' best pitcher, that the starting staff would receive critical contributions from Bartolo Colon and Paul Byrd (potentially two of the ugliest pitchers ever to don a Sox uniform, as an aside), that Jed Lowrie would have more RBI than Julio Lugo, that Manny would take his Manny show to the left coast, that Jason Varitek would be struggling to hit .220, that Kevin Youkilis would be the team's most feared power hitter, and that David Ortiz would miss the bulk of the first half with an injury - I'd probably have predicted that the Sox would finish fourth in the American League East.

Continue reading "Not Exactly How They Drew It Up - ..."

We say entertainers pass away in threes. Does that apply to the sports world?

Over the weekend former Patriots owner James Orthwein died. The Red Sox got a scare as Hall of Fame outfield Carl Yastremski went to the hospital with chest pains and underwent triple bypass surgery.

Continue reading "Union Needs a new Upshaw"

Last night's ninth inning was almost an afterthought, what with the ejection of both Dustin Pedroia and an irate Orioles fan within about 10 minutes of each other. In fact, the eighth featured the home plate umpire barking into the Sox dugout, Pedroia chirping at both the first base and home umpire, Pedroia getting tossed and the Orioles fan jabbing back and forth with Coco Crisp before battles with two ushers and a pair of Red Sox fans on the way out of the stadium.

Continue reading "The Manny we still have"

The BoSox are sputtering slightly and seem unable to cope with the thrilling blend of youthful exuberance, talent and execution of the Tampa Bay Rays (even after 5 months it still seems weird), and I have a sinking suspicion that the only thing that the NFL season will bring is a continuous highlight reel rehashing the painful and humiliating achievement that was 18-1, which means that it’s time for the first NBA preview of the 2008-2009 season (cue the balloon drop, the sirens and the party music!). 

Continue reading "Return of the Rivalry"

I'll be on vacation until I find a way to get internet access in my apt. Until then, toil away, try to make due with run-of-the-mill sports information sites such as ESPN and SI.com.

A few subjects to consider in my absence:

Continue reading "Editor's Note"

I don't get to watch nearly as many Red Sox games as I used to, and because the boys in green across town extended their season into June, I found myself way behind the eight ball once I started watching.

Continue reading "Thoughts while watching the game..."

st me, it's only a matter of time before the above title becomes the "literary work" of a Boston Red Sox beat writer.

Allow me to set the scene: "The smell of steamed hot dogs and cheap beer wafts playfully through the air, and the distant ringing of a bullpen phone can be heard in the background. But my focus is singular: Only the man in front of me matters. Encased in a green cell twice as long as it is wide, surrounded by a gang of amateur musicians banging out tunes on water bottles and cleat picks, I hear only the pop of my catcher's mitt. I glare into the eyes of the focused closer as he prepares to fire another critical warm-up pitch my way ..."

Continue reading "My Life Behind a Tiny Green Wall: ..."

Everybody has there own opinion about Manny being traded, especially people here in Boston. The bottom line is he is gone, and I for one am happy. Forget about the fact he was a great hitter, a pain in the neck, and that he was basicly dumped and not traded. Lets look at the rest of the season for the sox.

Continue reading "Enough About Manny !"

But it was time. And finally, citing irreconcilable differences, Manny Ramirez and the Boston Red Sox officially separated July 31, 2008.

  It was your classic on-again, off-again relationship. There were moments were it looked all but over – the Joe Kerrigan era, trading deadline ’05, the last few weeks of the 2006 season. But just when one of them was about to pack their bags and leave a tearful note on the kitchen table, peace was miraculously found and tender hugs smoothed things over for a little while.

Continue reading "The Break Up"

I write for a website called the “Boston Red Sox Fan Site” and so it is with a considerable degree of shame and embarrassment that I sit here and confess that, for the past few years, I haven’t been much of a Sox fan. I’ve retained my Sox memorabilia and paraphernalia, I’ve watched the games here and there, I’ve carried the company card (not literally, of course--anyone who purchases a “Red Sox Nation” card to validate his or her fandom should be bashed over the head with a wiffle bat). But my heart and my soul, the heart and soul I used to pour into every pitch of every inning, were off taking an extended, seventh-inning stretch.

Continue reading "Manny Trade Restores Team Concept"

Last week I droned on about the mind-numbing dullness of baseball’s mid-season. This week I’m eating my words.

Lets break down the two biggest deals:

Teixeira to the Halos: Braves trade Teixeira, who will become a free agent after this season, for Casey Kotchman (he of the .280 batting average, 12 dingers and 55 RBI). How did the Braves get fleeced here? They get a legitimate, starting first baseman who is excited about playing in Atlanta and who should hang round for a while. In return, they surrender a three-month rental player. Immediate advantage: Halos. Long-term advantage: Braves.

Continue reading "Trade Notes"

I don't know about other companies in Boston, but if mine was the barometer of productivity for the city yesterday, millions of dollars in worker unproductivity were lost yesterday as we all monitored the ongoing Manny Ramirez saga.

Continue reading "Manny feeling blue: The end of an era"

Imagine my surprise when it was revealed during one recent Red Sox telecast that the Sox are in the top 10 in the Major Leagues in stolen bases. Wait, what? I nearly demanded a recount. For a moment I thought they meant bases that had literally been stolen, as in removed from the premises. I figured the Sox were so abysmal on the road they were leaving other team's stadiums with whatever they could stuff in their gym bags, just to prove they had indeed shown up.

Continue reading "Stop Sign"

As any card-carrying member of Red Sox Nation will tell you, it's not summer until Manny Ramirez finds a way to feel slighted by the team's ever-tolerant ownership and management and demand a trade.

Continue reading "The obligatory Manny Ramirez apology..."

Apologies for my negligence. I’ve been down in Boston the past week-and-a-half looking for a “real job”.

The job hunt is frustrating and I’m afraid it’s sullied my mood a bit this rainy, Wednesday evening. Nonetheless, I’ll plug away for you, my faithful readers (if I’m not mistaken, there are between two and five of you—ahoy there Jaíme!).

Continue reading "July Doldrums"

We all saw Coco Crisp soar through the air and crash into the centerfield wall in Anaheim the other day. We were all in awe of the catch he made - the latest in a long line of remarkable highlights - and we all shouted out loud in our living room even though nobody but family members and perhaps a dog or two were present. (It's OK to admit it. You know you did it).

Continue reading "Serving Coco at The Trading Deadline"

build a winning club around.  But he is the centerpiece, and to a large extent the face of the Boston Red Sox, and his team is finally just as eccentric and successful as he is. Most importantly, he's a hitter. And boy, does Manny Ramirez hit.

Continue reading "Just Hit"

A Fenway experience wouldn't be a Fenway experience if it weren't for certain things: There's the smell of the sausage vendors outside, the cloud of traffic from the Kenmore T stop to the park, all those friendly and amiable scalpers, and, of course, the abundance of easy-to-find, affordable parking. OK, so I made that last part up.

Continue reading "Nuts and bolts and a day-late granny"

Manny Ramirez’s shenanigans, I have recently determined, have lost their cheekiness. They have, to quote Super Troopers, become “cruel and tragic”, which, to continue quoting, “makes them not shenanigans at all, really.”

Continue reading "Manny's Shenanigans No Longer Cheeky"

As we continue to grow our community here at BostonRedSoxFanSite.com I've been scouring the net for other Red Sox blogs trying to network a bit.  I recently ran across Boston Red Thoughts ( http://www.bostonredthoughts.com).  If you get a chance, check it out.  I highly recommend it to anyone who loves the Red Sox.

Continue reading "Check out this great Boston Red Sox blog"

It's one of those days in recent Red Sox history. Any 20-something Red Sox fan can likely remember where he or she was standing when it happened. I was at Tanglewood in Western Massachusetts, and when I was first told the news I didn't believe it.

Continue reading "No short answer"

On a final note, I truly love these players (the Lugos and Crisps of the world). These guys here are what link the Sox of the past (the Sox I grew up watching) to the new, confrangled, win-every-ye

Continue reading "More food for thought..."

At the mid-point of the '08 season, when many players are being lauded for their first-half accomplishments, I think it would be a disservice to the deserving fumblers around the league not to recognize their remarkable level of ineptitude.

Continue reading "Baseball's All-Underachieving Squad"

So can we please talk about Jason Giambi's mustache for a second? First the guy admits to wearing a gold thong when he needs to break out of a slump (it's hard to imagine that's all he's "breaking out of" in that kind of attire). And now he goes ahead and grows a full-out, mid-80s, Magnum PI mustache. Add these two nuggets to the fact that he's one of the 3 sweatiest humans on the planet, and that he's a New York Yankee, and you have the grossest person in America. Ever. Period.

Continue reading "Now playing first base for the New ..."

After falling behind Tampa Bay by three games, the Red Sox were hopeful going into Saturday’s match against the third-place Yankees. Francona put his faith into the young rookie pitcher, Masterson, even after his loss June 30 against Tampa Bay, and gave him the start, leaving Buchholz in the minors. Justin Masterson gave up two walks and two runs through six innings. Two walks aren’t bad for six innings, but there were more bases given off hit batters; in fact, between the two teams, the game tied the record for hit batters with seven. Manny Ramirez received three of those missed pitches, and even Yankees catcher, Molina, was hit by a foul tip off Pedroia’s bat.  Maybe Pedroia was just taking out his frustration over the poor call on what would have been at least a double having blatantly bounced over the bag at third, but the umpire saw it as foul.

Continue reading "Sox Still Second"

Two nights, two wins at Yankee Stadium ... that's more like it. We've also found two ways to prevent our bullpen from blowing a game - either take a seven-run lead into the ninth, or have your starter pitch the first nine innings (that's all of them, if you're scoring at home).

Continue reading "Keeping the bull in the pen"

Maybe in all of sports. Now that spring training has started, and opening day nears, a Boston Red Sox fan, who is also a professional journalist who frequently writes about baseball; and a New York Yankees fan have united to create a blog and web site where readers can celebrate, discuss and debate all things Red Sox, Yankees and baseball.

Continue reading "Blogging baseball’s greatest rivalry"

All right then, it’s almost July, which means it’s almost time for yet another midsummer classic, which once again will pit the National League against their arch-rivals, those bums from the junior circuit.

Continue reading "All-Star foppery"

So apparently leaving Houston wasn't the cure for what's ailing the Red Sox. All that's happened since they headed to Tampa is back-to-back silent offensive showings (at least through eight innings tonight). In fact, the biggest hit in the series is the one Manny delivered to a club official. Baseball is a funny game. You're going to have stumbles like this during the season, but as a fan they become downright maddening. It's hard to keep perspective that these are just four games out of 162 when JD Drew takes three straight pitches for strikes with a key runner on base in the eighth inning. Swing, JD, swing!

Continue reading "When do we finish Intraleague play?"

OK, show of hands - who hasn't enjoyed the Kevin-Youkilis-in-goggles era? Manning first behind those fancy specs while sporting a monster shiner, he looks like he's getting ready to play Laser Tag. Since it gives him something of a tough appearance, we don't have to tell anyone it's all because he couldn't handle a warm-up throw. Maybe he can make the goggles a signature thing, like Rip Hamilton of the Pistons and his goofy plastic mask. Hey, if Youk can make the Chia pet goatee work, he can certainly pull off a pair of glasses. It made me start thinking of former players who wore the glasses. Chris Sabo was the first that came to mind. But how about Luis Rivera, former light-hitting shortstop in Beantown, he of the tiny, whispy mustache and glasses complete with that thing that connects around your neck to keep them on. Classic.

Continue reading "Channeling Chris Sabo"

So there I was, lounging on the couch with my dog, half-way paying attention to Kevin Cash's eighth-inning at-bat Wednesday night. Half-way paying attention, you see, because Cash's last 40 or so trips to the plate have resulted in something of a similar outcome - ugliness. Obviously nobody is expecting a 40-40 season from a back-up catcher, and he continues to do what he was brought here to do - catch Wake - but his swing hasn't exactly been drawing comparisons to Griffey, Jr. of late.

Continue reading "Catching A Break"

Can we please put some kind of moratorium on all electronic strike zone replays during MLB telecasts? First ESPN invented the K-Zone, perhaps the only tool that could make Joe Morgan more maddening to

Continue reading "Strike Three For Electronic Replay"

Daisuke Matsuzaka is now 5-0 with an ERA well under 3 this season.  He's been making great pitches and has clearly given the Sox a chance to win every time he takes the hill.  I am very pleased with the strides he has taken this year, but can't help but notice some of the ridiculous statistics he has.

Continue reading "Daisuke's Season So Far"