April 4, 2010

Tonight at 8:05 p.m., the Red Sox will host the New York Yankees in the Grand Opening of their 2010 MLB Season at Fenway Park.  The Red Sox plan to start rightie, Josh Beckett on the mound while the Yankees will start leftie, C.C. Sabathia.  This will be the first game of eighteen meetings between MLB's biggest rivalry teams. 

New faces to watch for the Red Sox are pitcher John Lackey, 3rd baseman Adrian Beltre, Short Stop Marco Scutaro, and Center Fielder Mike Cameron. Fenway will surely be a packed house for this exciting opening game. 

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February 10, 2010

Yipee!  Today we received our RED SOX TICKETS in the mail!  Just 18 days until our 'boys of summer' take the field as spring training begins the 2010 MLB season!  The Boston Red Sox and the Fenway Faithful will begin migrating to Florida to celebrate the beginning of a brand new season and high hopes for overall improvement in proficiency on the mound as well as in the batter box. I can hardly wait for that first pitch.  Until then, make plans for your first 2010 Red Sox outting!  See ya' at home plate!

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Below is a letter from the Red Sox ownership to all the loyal fans of the Red Sox and The Red Sox Nation that appeared on the pages of Red Sox Insider on Boston's mlb.com pages.  Just thought you'd like to take a look!

Dear Loyal Fans,

Baseball, like anything worth loving, can frustrate, surprise, excite, and inspire you. Since taking over ownership of the team in 2002, we have been through some incredible highs and devastating lows together. Through it all, you have stood with us. Our ownership, front office staff, and especially our coaching staff and players have never forgotten that, never taken it for granted.

So as our 2009 campaign came to a bitter close Sunday afternoon, we were understandably upset -- the heartbreak of a season, ended before we'd like, never gets any easier. It gives us great pride however, to know that you were with us every step of the way this season -- filling Fenway Park, inspiring our team at home, and filling opposing ballparks with Red Sox cheers and colors.

You were there on Opening Day of this year as Jim Rice, who had just been elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, caught the game's Ceremonial First Pitch from Senator Edward M. Kennedy, on what would ultimately be his final trip to Fenway Park. You were there, when Jim was honored again -- his number 14 officially retired by the team, joining those of some of baseball's greats on the Fenway Park right field façade.

In late April, you were there when Jacoby Ellsbury provided the "did you see that" moment of the year, with his steal of home against the Yankees -- his tenth theft in a record-breaking season of 70 stolen bases. You were there as a determined David Ortiz persevered and set a new Major League record for most home runs by a designated hitter, when Jonathan Papelbon became the Red Sox all-time leader in saves, and when Terry Francona jumped to second on the club's managerial wins list, behind only Hall of Famer, Joe Cronin. For 95 wins, you were there with us, leading the charge. When Tim Wakefield was announced as an All-Star for the first time in his 17 years in the big leagues, you stood and cheered.. And boy did he appreciate it.

Throughout the years, whether sitting in the stands or tuning in at home to NESN and WEEI, you are the rock on which we build this team. Despite falling short of our ultimate goal, there was much to celebrate this season -- none of which would have been possible or nearly as enjoyable without you. So as we begin to prepare for 2010, we celebrate you, thank you, and promise to continue to field a team that is worthy of your support. Spring Training, and the warmth and rebirth it brings, will be here before you know it. Pitchers and catchers report in 126 days.

Thank you again and sincerely,
John W. Henry, Tom Werner, and Larry Lucchino

THE RED SOX LIFT FANS UP ... LET THEM DOWN
October 11th, 2009

There was plenty of action in Fenway Park this sunny autumn afternoon, but Red Sox fans trudged slowly out of the stadium after the Angels knocked the Sox out of the 2009 American League Division Series.  It was a nail biting 9th inning when Papelbon frazzled everyone in The Red Sox Nation when he allowed 3 runs, putting the Angels on top by one.  Brian Fuentes pitched for the winged halo's in the bottom of the 9th, with 3 up and out, the Angels sweeping the Sox, 3 games to none. :(  This just might be 'the' inning that seals Papelbon's fate for free agency during the next off-season..?

Red Sox veteran, Dave Henderson, tossed the first pitch and the game got underway, the Red Sox being the leaders on the score board through the 8th inning.  The third inning is when the Red Sox got on the score board for the first time when Dustin Pedroia hit a 2 run 'off the wall' double bringing home Gonzalez and Ellsbury, followed by a one-run single by Martinez, with Pedroia crossing home plate.  End score of the 3rd was 3-0, Sox!   Morales grabbed a high fast ball from Buchholz at the top of the fourth, for his first post season home run, putting the Angels on the score board for the first time.  Bottom of the 4th, a single by Lowell puts him on first, and J.D. Drew drives him home with a two-run homer. 

Buchholz begins to fizzle in a memorable 6th inning.  Hunter gets a double, then steals second; Buchholz balks when Hunter steals 3rd; Guerrero singles, Morales walks and bases are loaded!  That's when Francona brings in reliever David Bard, a former Red Sox first round pick from UNC, Chapel Hill.  Bard gets Rivera at full count, when

Rivera smacks a bat breaking hit, but the Sox infielders get runners out on 3rd and 2nd, making the double play.  Inning end score, 5-2, Sox on top. Billy Wagner was removed from the Red Sox mound with only one out left when Papelbon takes over.  Papelbon allowed a 2 run single by Rivera, making it a one run game.

Though the Red Sox have wrapped up the 2009 season, there's only 130 days until the Fenway faithful begin migrating to Florida for Red Sox Spring training!!!  In the

meantime, Francona and the Red Sox staff need to put into place some sort of systematic and rigorous skill building strategems to improve proficiency and off season outcomes.

Get Ready Red Sox~ 2010 is just around the corner!

THE SOX 'KEEP US HANGIN' ON'
October 10th, 2009

The LA Angels snagged another victory over the 'rough-n-ready' Red Sox in Anaheim Friday night by a score of 4-1, bagging their second win in the ALDS.  Josh Beckett held things together through the 6th inning, but things took a downward spiral in the 7th as the 'righty' walked Guerrero, pitched a wild one hitting at bat Napoli, and put two less than stellar throws across the plate.  The first was to Izturis who wrangled a single to center field while the second allowed Aybar to add a 2-run triple to his post season stats. This one inning sent J.B.'s playoff record plummeting to a 7-3 record.  Leadoff batter for the Red Sox in the 4th, Jacoby Ellsbury, provided some hope for Sox fans when he hit a triple and crossed home plate when Victor Martinez smacked a single.

Despite this loss, the Sox keep us hanging' on, and the loyal fans in the Red Sox Nation still 'BELIEVE'!  The Red Sox return home on Sunday to the familiar frenetic furor of the Fenway fans for their 3rd game in the ALDS.  Clay Buchholz will likely be the 3rd game starter for Boston while Scott Kazmir will be on the mound for the Angels.  This is the first playoff appearance for Buchholz and sox fans remember how he took command of things in late September when he had a 6 inning shut out with 8 strike outs against the K.C. Royals. 

So Angels BEWARE and BRING IT ON!!!  We're rough, we're ready, and rarin' to go!  The Red Sox Roster is ready and ripe, and with forbearing FANS, we're up for the fight!  GO SOX! :)

IT'S 'SOXTOBER'
October 9th, 2009

The Boston Red Sox lost to the Los Angeles Angels last night in Anaheim, the Sox coming out scoreless with the Angels coming out on top with 5. :(  This was the first game for the Red Sox in the AL Division Series, but they're bound to bounce back tonight when they come head to head once again with the Angels.  Jon Lester was on the mound last night for the Sox and it wasn't his best outting.  He allowed 4 hits and 3 runs, walked 4 and struck out five on the opposing team.  Lackey heated things up on the mound for the Angels as he allowed only 1 walker and struck out 4.  He was on fire, tossing impossible to hit pitches and allowing only 4 singles from the Sox. 

And who doesn't love Jacoby Ellsbury?  He displayed his interminable ability with his high flying dive to flip out Figgins, ending the 6th inning. 

The Red Sox defense was a little out of "whak" as the Sox finished the game with 3 errors.  Hopefully, by game time tonight, the Sox will have re-grouped, re-energized, and re-positioned themselves. Here's hoping our guys will knock the wind out from under those winged Angels. Righty Josh Beckett will most likely open for tonight's game, so 'Let's Go Sox!'

 Let's Go Streeeeeeeeeeaking!!!
April 28, 2009

The Boston Red Sox are streaking.  No, not like Will Ferrell in "Old School".  The Red Sox completed a three-game sweep of their hated rivals, the New York Yankees, but even that wasn't the top story on Monday morning.  The Red Sox 4-1 win over the Yankees on Sunday was the 10th straight win, and 9th straight home win. 

Whether it was a dominate 10-1 shellacking of the Twins or an 11th inning walk-off homer (thank you, Youks!) to edge out the Yankees, the Red Sox have found ways to win games, even if they had to take big risks to do it.  Just ask Jacoby Ellsbury, who stole home on Andy Pettitte Sunday night.

The Red Sox can only hope the road is as good to them as Fenway has been over the past two weeks.  They travel to Cleveland on Monday for a three-game series with the struggling Indians, and then it's off to sunny Florida, to take on the Rays.  The ten-game streak went as follows:

     Oakland-2                           Boston-8
     Baltimore-8                         Boston-10
     Baltimore-4                         Boston-6 
     Baltimore-1                         Boston-2
     Baltimore-1                         Boston-12
     Minnesota-1                        Boston-10
     Minnesota-3                        Boston-7
     New York-4                         Boston-5
     New York-11                       Boston-16
     New York-1                         Boston-4

Pedroia Proves Most Valuable in Red Sox Fifth Straight Win
April 20, 2009

After opening the season with a W over the defending league champion Rays, the Red Sox slumped in an awful way, winning just two of their next eight games.  Then the red hot O's came to town, and it was the Red Sox offense that came to life.  Winning the first three games of the series by a combined five runs, the Red Sox came out on Monday ready to start the week off, and kept the winning streak going.

Justin Pedroia was the offensive highlight reel, smacking around four hits, scoring three runs, and driving in three more.  But the reigning AL MVP wasn't the only one putting a damper on the O's pitching staff.  David Ortiz, who was only batting .171 coming into Monday, ripped a double and a triple and knocked in two runs.  Jacoby Ellsbury contributed from the leadoff spot, earning himself three hits and three runs.  Rounding out the offensive masterpiece was the captain himself, Mr. Veritek, who had two hits, two RBI's, which included going yards over the Green Monster.  The Red Sox get the 12-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

The sweep of the O's has the Red Sox at 7-6 overall, with the AL East standing currently as follows:

Toronto            10-4
Boston              7-6
New York          7-6
Baltimore          6-7
Tampa Bay       5-8

The Red Sox will host a two game series against the Twins starting Tuesday and then Friday, the inconsistent and always hated Yankees come to town for three games over the weekend.  The Red Sox and Yankees will meet a total of 18 times throughout the 2009 season.  For more information on the Red Sox (injuries, prospects, minor league news, etc) visit www.boston.redsox.mlb.com.  Until next time, GOOOOOOO RED SOX!

Beckkkkkkkkkkett Stings Rays on Opening Day
April 8, 2009

No, Josh Beckett isn't the Governor; he's not a senator, a legislator, or even a Presidential candidate.  But Mr. Beckett might be the most liked person in Massachusetts.  While the defending NBA champion Celtics have the dynamic trio of Allen, Garnett, and Pierce, Boston faithful still hold the Red Sox slightly higher on the pedestal.  Therefore, Josh Beckett is the King of the Commonwealth.  The ace had MVP-like stats, racking up 10 strikeouts and allowing only two hits in seven innings.  What might have been even more impressive is that his last pitch was a heater, clocked at 94 mph.

Josh Beckett may have been the stand out in the Red Sox opener, but many others contributed.  The 2008 Most Valuable Player Dustin Pedroia slaughtered a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Fenway faithful something to cheer about.

Beckett gave up his only earned run in the third inning on a sac fly by Carl Crawford (which tied the game), but that was the only time the AL defending champion would cross the plate.  Once Beckett left the game after the seventh inning, the Rays tried to rally by getting two runs in the eighth inning off relievers Hideki Okajima and Justin Masterson, but the Red Sox offense was just too much for the Rays to handle.  Jonathan Papelbon came in to close the game in the ninth and he earned his first save of the season in dominating fashion, throwing a 96 mph fastball to end the game with a strike out.

It's a looooooog season, but game one of 18 goes to the Red Sox, 5-3.  Game two between the AL East foes will take place on Wednesday night, when John Lester takes the mound against Mr. Kazmir of the Rays.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm.

Red Sox Send Beckett to Mound to Hook Rays in Season Opener
Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Rain, rain, go away...Come again another day.  That's what the Red Sox were sure to be singing in the clubhouse on Monday afternoon.  They were set to host the AL defending champion, Tampa Bay Rays, on Opening Day, but rain drenched the city of Boston and Fenway Park.  Instead, the rematch of the ALCS will take place on Tuesday afternoon, with the first pitch to be tossed at 4:05 p.m.  The Red Sox send their ace, Josh Beckett, to the mound to begin their 2009 through the AL East and hopefully to the World Series!  This is the first Opening Day start for Beckett in a Red Sox jersey, coming off a 2008 season of ups and downs.  He will face James Shields, who went 14-8 last year for the Rays, but who struggles at Fenway. (0-3 all time in Boston)  The Red Sox also managed to beat him twice last year during the ALCS.

And how do some of the Red Sox feel about defending AL champion Rays?  "I don't think they've gotten any worse.  If anything, they've gotten better," said Red Sox shortstop, Jeb Lowrie.

The Opener between the Red Sox and Rays will be the first of 18 meetings between the two clubs this season, meaning there should be some fireworks to come in 2009.

Jim Rice Heads to Cooperstown

Sixteen major league seasons. Three-hundred and eighty-two homeruns. One-thousand, four-hundred and fifty-one RBIs. Career batting average of .298. Eight-time All Star. Two-time Silver Slugger Award winner. 1978 AL MVP. 

If these stats aren’t Hall of Fame worthy, then someone please tell me what is. These are the career stats of Red Sox legend Jim Rice. The left fielder spent 14 seasons on the Hall of Fame ballot, but never had enough votes to be inducted. Finally this year, in his 15th and final year of eligibility, Rice earned enough votes (412 votes, 76.4 percent) to slug his way into Cooperstown.  It seemed that his 2008 ballot would be the closest he’d get to making history, falling just 16 votes shy. Rice joins Red Ruffing (1967) and Ralph Kiner (1975) as the only three players in Major League history to be inducted in their final year of eligibility. 

 Rice also joins two other legends of Fenway in Cooperstown. He is one of only three left fielders who played their entire career for the Red Sox to be inducted into the Hall. You may have heard of the other two:  Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski. And while the #14 that Rice proudly displayed on his jersey has not been worn by another Red Sox player since, don’t be surprised if the Red Sox make it official sometime in the coming season. 

There is much speculation as to why it took Rice 15 years to get into the Hall. Some say it’s because he never joined the 3,000 hits club. Some say it’s because he didn’t quite reach 400 home runs. Others say it’s because of his struggle to maintain a .300 career batting average, (his final three seasons weren’t so stellar, causing his career average to drop to .298).  Maybe it’s a combination of the three. None of that matters now though. Rice is just happy the wait is over with. “It’s a big relief. It just seemed like, I didn’t have any weight on my shoulder before that, per se, but when I got the call, it seemed like everything just fell off. That was a relief then,” he stated. 

The most memorable season Rice had was the 1978 season. During his MVP season, Rice batted .315, knocked in 139 RBIs, and slugged 46 homers. The Red Sox lost a one-game playoff to the Yankees that year, keeping them from making the postseason. That didn’t take away from the heroic play of the slugging, aggressive, and always intimidating Jim Rice. 

Rice joins fellow left-fielder and stolen base king Ricky Henderson as the only two players to be inducted into Cooperstown this year. Henderson led with 511 votes (94.8%) with Rice finishing  second. The induction ceremony will be held on July 26, 2009. 

Tuesday, September 23
Clincher, and a look ahead to the Indians series this week:

Fenway Park is sure to be electric tonight as the Red Sox look to clinch at least the AL Wild Card as well as completely eliminate the hated Yankees from postseason play for the first time in over a decade. Josh Beckett will take the ball tonight for the Sox and go up against the Cleveland Indians and Zack Jackson, who has been anything but impressive since his call-up following Paul Byrd’s trade to the Red Sox. Jackson is a young lefty who was part of the CC Sabathia deal earlier this year but is 0-3 with an abysmal 6.35 ERA in his short time up in the majors. Beckett on the other hand, seems to be returning to his dominant self, and not a moment too soon for Red Sox nation. In his three starts since returning from the DL he has given up just 2 runs in 19 IP, and hopes to continue that kind of strong pitching tonight and deep into October.

If the Sox are unable to win tonight though, that 92nd win probably won’t be coming until Wednesday, as Cy-Young runaway Cliff Lee is set to start tomorrow against Wakefield. Cliff Lee has dominated the league this year, going an incredible 22-2 with just a 2.41 ERA. On the bright side though, the Red Sox have had success against him in the past and he’s struggled in Fenway. It should be exciting either way, since you either get to see the first 23 game winner since 02, or you get to see the Sox scrap out a win against a guy who hasn’t lost in his last 13 starts.

Wednesday’s game should be a good one as well, as Paul Byrd makes his first start against his old teammates in Cleveland. Scheduled to oppose him though is the most exciting pitcher Cleveland has to watch, Fausto Carmona, who can be lights out (see last year) or can be complete crap (see 2 year ago). Either way though, he has electric stuff and is always fun to watch. Then on Thursday, the Red Sox send out Jon Lester, who I consider our ace this year despite Dice-K’s superior record and ERA. He will be facing Jeremy Sowers.

There are a few more interesting things to watch for this week though. First of all, several Indians players could be looking at suspensions following their brawl with the Tigers. The most likely of who was aforementioned pitcher, Fausto Carmona, who was at the center of the brawl when he beamed Gary Sheffield. Sheffield then charged the mound from first base when Carmona threw over to check on him and Carmona bloodied up his nose pretty good. Another thing to note is that this week will be a good test on the lefties in the lineup, as they are facing 4 LHP’s in Jackson, Lee, Sowers, and then Andy Pettitte on Friday. The other key team to watch, of course, is the Rays, who lead the Sox in the East by just a game and a half. Even if we clinch the Wild Card tonight you can never underestimate the importance of taking 1st in the division, since it will mean getting to face the White Sox instead of the Angels and home field advantage over both the White Sox and the Rays if we meet up with them in the 2nd round.