Adam Stern had yet another good Spring outing and is making a good case for the Red Sox to carry 5 outfielders. He went 3 for 5 with a double, a homerun, and a stolen base. He also knocked in two runs. He is batting .429 in Grapefruit League play to go along with his .667 WBC average. Overall in Spring games he is batting .500 (15 for 30) and is slugging 0.967 combined.
Willy Mo Pena also did well, going 2 for 4 with a laser homerun and 2 RBI. It wasn't enough thoush as Papelbon gave up 2 runs in 5 innings, Timlin gave up a run in an inning, and Riske gave up 2 runs in an inning. Craig Hansen continued his scoreless Spring with a clean sheet in the 8th.
COLTS FANS UPSET AT LOSS OF VANDERJERK?
You'd think that Indy fans would be jumping for joy. After all, last season ended for them on a missed field goal and they had just signed the guy who almost never misses when it matters most. Yet it seems as though many Colts fans are dissapointed to see Mike Vanderjagt leaving and going to Dallas and Adam Vinatieri coming to Indianapolis. This makes me wonder, maybe Indy fans are morons. Also, maybe Pats fans are overreacting.
TEN DAYS TIL OPENING DAY
Opening day in Arlington, TX is getting closer and closer. There are still a few questions yet to be answered, however. Curt Schilling will start on Opening Day, and Beckett will come after that. But who will be #3? Probably Clement who has had a good spring. Then Wakefield. Then the #5 hole which is vacant because Wells won't be starting until the 10th game of the season. Papelbon will probably pitch there, but if he does well, will he be removed from the rotation?
Then there's the question of the backup catcher. The pride of Ithaca: Josh Bard, has seen the most time there this spring. He brings some experience to the position with 149 games caught with the Indians. In 1,197.2 innings behind the dish, he has allowed 9 passed balls or 1 every 133 innings. He's batted .278 this spring and has seen more time than the other catchers. Unless the Sox can acquire another backup catcher, I think he will be it.
Boston sports blog featuring Patriots propaganda, and opinions on the Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
LET'S CALM DOWN, PEOPLE
Been listening to WEEI off and on and reading a few posts on a few message boards and I think that people in Patriot Land need to calm down. Some people are viewing this as the end of a dynasty. Some people are proclaiming Vinatieri as being "greedy". I think these opinions are too extreme.
In the end Vinatieri is a kicker. He's a great kicker, but he isn't the be all and end all of the team. Yes, he was money when it mattered most. But there are many more important elements of a football team that are more important.
I don't think Vinatieri is being "greedy" either. He wants security and he's gotten it with his $3.5 million signing bonus. This type of stuff happens in pro sports. It is a business.
So let's get off the Patriots back just a bit. Let's see who they get to replace Adam and how it works out during the season. And let's get off Adam's back. Both the team and Adam have performed so well for us over the past few seasons that we should cut them just a bit of slack.
In the end Vinatieri is a kicker. He's a great kicker, but he isn't the be all and end all of the team. Yes, he was money when it mattered most. But there are many more important elements of a football team that are more important.
I don't think Vinatieri is being "greedy" either. He wants security and he's gotten it with his $3.5 million signing bonus. This type of stuff happens in pro sports. It is a business.
So let's get off the Patriots back just a bit. Let's see who they get to replace Adam and how it works out during the season. And let's get off Adam's back. Both the team and Adam have performed so well for us over the past few seasons that we should cut them just a bit of slack.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
COLTS SIGN VINATIERI
Of all the teams, he had to go to the Colts. Indy signed away one of the biggest heroes in Boston sports history today. They needed a kicker and they got one of the best ever. This is just another player the Patriots have lost this year. Others such as Willie McGinist, and David Givens have left the team. There is some serious work to be done down in Foxborough to fill these holes for the 2006 season.
Having Vinatieri was like starting every game with a 3-0 lead. He is the clutchest player in any sport that I have ever seen. When you called on him to be the hero, he would do it, even on the bigger stages.
Adam was getting older. Last season, he had some troubles with his back and his range was down. The Patriots took a lot of punts when maybe 2 seasons ago they would have attempted field goals. His kickoffs also weren't going as far as in the past, but that is a small part of the game.
The Patriots depended on Vinatieri more than any other team depended on their kicker. We play such a close game and depend on getting small edges that amount to victories. Vinatieri was one of those edges. The Pats will get a decent kicker to replace Vinatieri, but I don't think there is a kicker out there to match Vinatieri's ability to perform under pressure. The Patriots will have to adjust for that.
Having Vinatieri was like starting every game with a 3-0 lead. He is the clutchest player in any sport that I have ever seen. When you called on him to be the hero, he would do it, even on the bigger stages.
Adam was getting older. Last season, he had some troubles with his back and his range was down. The Patriots took a lot of punts when maybe 2 seasons ago they would have attempted field goals. His kickoffs also weren't going as far as in the past, but that is a small part of the game.
The Patriots depended on Vinatieri more than any other team depended on their kicker. We play such a close game and depend on getting small edges that amount to victories. Vinatieri was one of those edges. The Pats will get a decent kicker to replace Vinatieri, but I don't think there is a kicker out there to match Vinatieri's ability to perform under pressure. The Patriots will have to adjust for that.
THE FUTURE OF THE WBC
Japan won the first ever World Baseball Classic. Did you know that? Now for some reason, the next WBC will be in 3 years in 2009. Perhaps for the next one, they'll learn a few things:
1. Don't schedule games during the NCAA tournament. Even the NIT knows that.
2. Try not to have it during Spring Training. It isn't really the best players in the world when they're kept to pitch counts and are swinging like it is Spring Training.
3. Maybe have more international umpiring crews.
4. Don't just arbitrarily select 16 countries, make them qualify in some way.
5. It is boring to have teams in the same group in the 1st round play in the next round. We never got to see the US play Cuba or the Dominican play Japan.
6. Don't put the games on ESPN Deportes and don't give the NIT more priority on regular ESPN.
It will be back in 2009, they're sticking to March, and it will probably still be in North America.
It will be interesting to see how participants in the WBC start off the season. Will they be warmer and fresher having played in serious games, or will they be colder having had limited playing time, or will they be worn out? Time will tell.
To Mr. Steinbrenner, though. One MLB player was hurt, more than 150 were not.
1. Don't schedule games during the NCAA tournament. Even the NIT knows that.
2. Try not to have it during Spring Training. It isn't really the best players in the world when they're kept to pitch counts and are swinging like it is Spring Training.
3. Maybe have more international umpiring crews.
4. Don't just arbitrarily select 16 countries, make them qualify in some way.
5. It is boring to have teams in the same group in the 1st round play in the next round. We never got to see the US play Cuba or the Dominican play Japan.
6. Don't put the games on ESPN Deportes and don't give the NIT more priority on regular ESPN.
It will be back in 2009, they're sticking to March, and it will probably still be in North America.
It will be interesting to see how participants in the WBC start off the season. Will they be warmer and fresher having played in serious games, or will they be colder having had limited playing time, or will they be worn out? Time will tell.
To Mr. Steinbrenner, though. One MLB player was hurt, more than 150 were not.
Monday, March 20, 2006
APPARENTLY IT DOESN'T SUCK TO BU
The Boston University Terriers plowed through UNH 9-2 then squeezed by arch-rvial Boston College in the Hockey East finals in overtime 2-1 in order to claim their first HE title since 1997. The win also helped BU to move up to #1 in the national polls.
BU will be playing in Worcester in the Northeast Regional bracket as a #1 seed, facing off against Nebraska-Omaha on Friday afternoon. Also playing in Worcester will be Boston College, who will play against Miami after the BU game.
Two more Hockey East teams made the NCAA tournament. Maine will play Harvard in Albany. Also in Albany, UNH will face Michigan State. Two more Massachusetts teams made the tournament. The afore mentioned Harvard and Holy Cross, who will be facing off against Minnesota in Grand Forks, ND. Overrall, that makes for 6 out of the 16 participants in this year's tournament teams from New England. There are six teams from the Great Lakes area, one from Colorodo, one from Nebraska, one from North Dakota, and one from upstate New York. Can you see why college hockey hasn't caught on nationally?
Here's the full bracket
SOX TRADE ARROYO
The Red Sox have traded Bronson Arroyo to the Reds for outfielder Willy Mo Pena. Many people felt that the Red Sox were going to trade one of their starting pitchers because they simply had plenty of them to trade. Wells probably would have been the most desireable for the Sox to trade, but he was also the least tradeable.
Arroyo is 29 and had never really blossomed into the frontline pitcher many in Red Sox Nation had hoped he would. He went 24-9 in his 3 year career in Boston and was an impressive 10-2 in the post-season. However, his ERA in the post-season tells a different story, it is 7.41. Last year, Arroyo's ERA was 4.51 and the year before was 4.03. He showed signs of brilliance in his first few outings of 2005, including a brush with a no-hitter against the Tigers. However, as the months progressed, his ERA gradually went higher and higher. Arroyo's struggles continued in Spring Training.
Willy Mo Pena is 23 years old and has experience at all outfield positions. Last season he hit .254 with 19 HRs in 99 games. I think he'll be a solid bench player with pop and defensive versatility. We needed a 4th outfielder, especially with the injury prone Trot Nixon out there, and Willy Mo is it. He's got some upside with 45 HRs in the past 2 seasons, both in limited playing time.
I think this deal almost had to be done. The Red Sox had a lot of starting pitching and needed some depth in the outfield. The way I look at it, the Red Sox traded a reliever for a 4th outfielder.
I think Willy Mo will see some time in the outfield as a defensive replacement for Manny late in games, as a pinch hitter for guys like Gonzalez, and as a right handed semi-platoon player to spell Nixon against tough lefties like Randy Johnson. His depth should add a good deal to this team and he probably won't be clamoring too much for extra playing time.
The Red Sox have also offered an invitation to camp to Juan Gonzalez. The 36 year old has struggled to stay healthy over the past few years, playing in only 1 game last year and 186 over the past 4 years. That's only about 47 games a season. Again, the Red Sox need outfield depth. This is a chance to get it without giving up much. Gonzalez's career numbers speak for themselves (.295 BA, 434 HRs, 1,404 RBIs). If he can be healthy and come off the bench with some pop, then he'll be worth a shot.
I'm sorry I haven't been posting that much over the past few days. With March Madness and St. Patrick's Day, I've been somewhat busy. I'll have summaries on the Red Sox in Spring Training, the BC Eagles in the NCAA tourney, and the Hockey East tournament as well as the Celtics who are only 3.5 games out of a playoff berth.
Also, I'm not getting paid for this, but see the movie V for Vendetta. It is awesome.
Arroyo is 29 and had never really blossomed into the frontline pitcher many in Red Sox Nation had hoped he would. He went 24-9 in his 3 year career in Boston and was an impressive 10-2 in the post-season. However, his ERA in the post-season tells a different story, it is 7.41. Last year, Arroyo's ERA was 4.51 and the year before was 4.03. He showed signs of brilliance in his first few outings of 2005, including a brush with a no-hitter against the Tigers. However, as the months progressed, his ERA gradually went higher and higher. Arroyo's struggles continued in Spring Training.
Willy Mo Pena is 23 years old and has experience at all outfield positions. Last season he hit .254 with 19 HRs in 99 games. I think he'll be a solid bench player with pop and defensive versatility. We needed a 4th outfielder, especially with the injury prone Trot Nixon out there, and Willy Mo is it. He's got some upside with 45 HRs in the past 2 seasons, both in limited playing time.
I think this deal almost had to be done. The Red Sox had a lot of starting pitching and needed some depth in the outfield. The way I look at it, the Red Sox traded a reliever for a 4th outfielder.
I think Willy Mo will see some time in the outfield as a defensive replacement for Manny late in games, as a pinch hitter for guys like Gonzalez, and as a right handed semi-platoon player to spell Nixon against tough lefties like Randy Johnson. His depth should add a good deal to this team and he probably won't be clamoring too much for extra playing time.
The Red Sox have also offered an invitation to camp to Juan Gonzalez. The 36 year old has struggled to stay healthy over the past few years, playing in only 1 game last year and 186 over the past 4 years. That's only about 47 games a season. Again, the Red Sox need outfield depth. This is a chance to get it without giving up much. Gonzalez's career numbers speak for themselves (.295 BA, 434 HRs, 1,404 RBIs). If he can be healthy and come off the bench with some pop, then he'll be worth a shot.
I'm sorry I haven't been posting that much over the past few days. With March Madness and St. Patrick's Day, I've been somewhat busy. I'll have summaries on the Red Sox in Spring Training, the BC Eagles in the NCAA tourney, and the Hockey East tournament as well as the Celtics who are only 3.5 games out of a playoff berth.
Also, I'm not getting paid for this, but see the movie V for Vendetta. It is awesome.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
SCHILLING IS A HIT
Curt Schilling started out masterfully, spinning three beautiful innings Saturday afternoon against the Pirates. Then it all fell apart. Schilling has been toying with the idea of pitching inside. He's had some good masters of this art to observe in the past from Randy Johnson to Pedro Martinez. However, he didn't really show the fortitude necessary to pitch like that on Saturday. Maybe that wasn't it, but I think it was.
When you're not used to hitting batters it can affect you. Curt has only hit 47 batters in his Major League career over 18 seasons. The most he ever had in a single season was 6. Compare that with Pedro who has hit 119 in 13 full seasons, or Roger Clemens who has beaned 150, or Randy Johnson who has hit an impressive 168 batters over 18 seasons. These guys are used to seeing players go down and even get hurt when hit by the ball. They are also used to throwing up and in without hitting someone in the head.
Pitching inside is all about the threat. Even the toughest hitters covered in steroid filled muscles and layers of padding don't want to get hit, especially in the head. This instinctual fear keeps them from getting too comfortable in the batter's box. This allows the pitcher to more freely throw the ball over the plate. However, the intention is almost never to hit someone in the head with a pitch.
I don't think Schilling meant to hit Duffy in the head. I think he went up and in on a player that, like Schilling, is still in spring training mode and isn't at 100% on his toes like he would be in May or June. So Duffy went down and maybe Curt got a little shaken up about it.
Whatever went wrong, it went wrong big time. Curt gave up 4 runs in his final inning of work, ruining his stat-line on an otherwise fine day of pitching.
The good news from Saturday's 10-7 loss to the Pirates was that the bats came alive just a bit. J.T. Snow went 2 for 3 with a double and a pair of RBI. Alex Gonzalez and Tony Graffanino each went 1 for 3 with an RBI. However, Schilling's implosion and Jon Lester's lackluster relief performance resulted in yet another loss in spring. Hopefully, the Red Sox will get losing out of their system before April.
TWINS CLINCH MAYOR'S CUP WITH WIN
Adam Stern was welcomed back to the Red Sox with a singing of "O, Canada" by some of his teammates and went 1 for 1, but the return of the WBC star was not enough. Neither was a 2 run homer by Kevin Youkilis which was all the Red Sox offense could muster in terms of scoring. Papelbon started off nicely but faded, eventually allowing 5 runs in 3.1 innings. His stamina will be pivotal to the Red Sox this year if he is going to be in the rotation. We've seen this problem with Bronson Arroyo as well as with other younger starters such as Casey Fossum a few years back. They mow through lineups one or two times then hitters figure them out and knock them around. It usually isn't a question of arm strength. It is coming up with new ways to fool hitters. Great pitchers toy with hitters each time through the lineup, setting them up, and showing them something different each time. That's what good starters have to do to produce Quality Starts and go deep into games.
So the Red Sox have lost yet another Mayor's Cup to the crosstown Twins. It isn't serious, but in March on the verge of serious baseball, it is fun to pretend, isn't it?
OTHER NOTES FROM FORT MYERS
Keith Foulke faced batters for the first time on Friday. He played long toss on Sunday. No word yet on when a return is expected.
David Wells will pitch in a minor league game this week. No word on when he will join the big club.
A friend of mine went down and saw the Sox in spring training this week. He said that Crisp looked good. Not only was he putting up good numbers, but he was making solid contact and was playing heads up baseball, particularly on the bases. We need that type of Dirt Dogedness on the team, especially from our leadoff hitter.
USA BEATS JAPAN 4-3...OR DID THEY?
In the first game of 2nd round play, the Americans walked off with a 4-3 ninth inning victory over the Japanese, but it was not without some controversy. With the game tied at 3 in the top of the inning, it appeared as though Japan had taken the lead of a sac fly. The Americans appealed and the play was upheld by the 2nd base umpire. Then the play was overturned by the home plate umpire. Those plays are always bang bang but I can't recall an appeal denied then that denial being overruled. Be that as it may, the Americans have taken a pivotal game against a tough team.
Cuba beat Venezuela 7-2 in Pool 2 play. Cuba is demonstrating that they are a legitimate threat in this tournament despite having no Major Leaguers on their roster.
Puerto Rico beat the Dominican 7-1. David Ortiz and Alex Cora both went 0 for 4. Julian Tavarez pitched an inning allowing 3 unearned runs and 3 hits. Hard to call all of those runs unearned when you allow 3 hits in an inning.
The US takes on Korea tomorrow, Cuba plays the Dominican in a huge matchup of epic proportions, and Venezuela faces off against Puerto Rico.
IT'S ALL OVER FOR THE BRUINS
I'm calling it, although it could have been called long ago. The season for the Bruins is over. After a 6-2 loss to the Sabres Sunday night, the 5th loss in a row and the 8th out of the last 9 games played, the Bruins are all but mathematically eliminated from the playoff hunt. With 17 games left, the Bruins are 13th in the Eastern Conference standings, 10 points behind 8th place Tampa Bay. That isn't the major problem, however. The problem is, the Thrashers, Islanders, Maple Leafs, and Panthers all stand in between the Bruins and the 8th and final playoff spot. It just simply seems incredibly unlikely that the Bruins will amass enough points in their remaining 17 games and for five teams to fold up, especially considering how badly the Bruins have played recently and the loss of Sergei Samsonov. So this is it. The Bruins are done. Hopefully I'm wrong. But I doubt it very much.
NO MORE BIG WILLIE STYLE IN GILLETTE?
The potential disaster in the NFL was averted as the League and Player's Association came to an agreement on a new CBA. However, the football news was not completely good. The Patriots cut defensive end/outside linebacker Willie McGinist a few days ago. The move was an obvious one because of McGinist's $7 million cap figure. I wouldn't be shocked if the Patriots attempted to sign him with a more cap-friendly contract, but I also wouldn't be surprised if the NFL's all-time leader in playoff sacks gets some big offers to play elsewhere. It will be sad to see Willie go, however. He made many big plays in many big games and his versatility and stamina were remarkable. Players like him allow coaches like Belichick to look smart. Not that Bill isn't a genius, he just looked like a super-genius with guys like McGinist out there.
TOP SEEDS ALL MOVE ON IN HOCKEY EAST
There were some close games, but each of the favorites moved on in the first round of the Hockey East playoffs. Top seed Boston University beat UMass in two games to advance. Maine beat UMass-Lowell 4-3 twice to move on. Boston College squeezed by Vermont in OT then crushed them in the second game to go to the semi-finals. UNH needed double OT to seal the deal but eventually put Providence College away.
The Semi-Finals begin on St. Patrick's Day in the Garden with Boston College playing Maine and Boston University playing New Hampshire. The winners of those games will play the next day for the Hockey East Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Sources and Resources for this post:
Yahoo! MLB Photos
Boston.com Sports
RedSox.com
Hockey East Online
Baseball-Reference.com
World Baseball Classic
ESPN.com
BC GETS SCREWED IN NCAA SEEDING
It happened a few months ago, BC was selected to play in the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise against Boise State instead of somewhere a bit warmer and somewhere a bit more neutral. That was understandable. The teams selected by more desireable bowls had larger fan bases and more notoriety. However, this seeding situation is unexcusable. The NCAA seeding system is supposed to be based entirely on the quality of the team. However, BC was screwed out of what should have been a 3 seed. Now, I know it is only 1 seed difference, but they should have gotten a 3 seed and a playing location closer to home such as Dayton or Detroit.
What confuses me is that Boston College got a 4 seed, and North Carolina got a 3 seed. We beat UNC twice, including the ACC Semis. We lost to Duke in the title game by the slightest of margins. Yet we have been ranked by the NCAAs to be weaker than at least 12 other teams even though we are ranked 11th at the moment and just beat Maryland, UNC, and lost by 2 to a #1 seed.
The seeding isn't the only thing that irritates me. BC will be playing in Salt Lake City. The other three teams in BC's pod are all western teams (Montana, Pacific, and Nevada). Hell, Nevada is right next door to Utah. If BC manages to win their first two games, they'll move on to Minneapolis. They will probably face Villanova.
I think BC has earned a 3 seed and the chance to play closer to home. They finished 3rd in the ACC, 11th in the nation, then went through the ACC tournament losing only to #3 in the country Duke by 2 points in the state of North Carolina. Apparently, that isn't good enough. Oh well.
I'm probably overanalyzing minutia here. Boston College still has one of the easiest paths it has ever had in the NCAA tournament. They should beat 13th seeded Pacific. I think they'll have a close one against 5th seeded Nevada but should move on. After that, they're certianly capable of beating Villanova but it won't be easy. After that it will probably be Ohio State or Florida which will be tough but not as tough as Villanova. Then probably UConn or Tennessee. BC is a candidate to win all of this thing. Do I think it will happen? Probably not. But if they play just a bit better for a bit longer than they played against Duke today and do it every game, they will win it all.
What confuses me is that Boston College got a 4 seed, and North Carolina got a 3 seed. We beat UNC twice, including the ACC Semis. We lost to Duke in the title game by the slightest of margins. Yet we have been ranked by the NCAAs to be weaker than at least 12 other teams even though we are ranked 11th at the moment and just beat Maryland, UNC, and lost by 2 to a #1 seed.
The seeding isn't the only thing that irritates me. BC will be playing in Salt Lake City. The other three teams in BC's pod are all western teams (Montana, Pacific, and Nevada). Hell, Nevada is right next door to Utah. If BC manages to win their first two games, they'll move on to Minneapolis. They will probably face Villanova.
I think BC has earned a 3 seed and the chance to play closer to home. They finished 3rd in the ACC, 11th in the nation, then went through the ACC tournament losing only to #3 in the country Duke by 2 points in the state of North Carolina. Apparently, that isn't good enough. Oh well.
I'm probably overanalyzing minutia here. Boston College still has one of the easiest paths it has ever had in the NCAA tournament. They should beat 13th seeded Pacific. I think they'll have a close one against 5th seeded Nevada but should move on. After that, they're certianly capable of beating Villanova but it won't be easy. After that it will probably be Ohio State or Florida which will be tough but not as tough as Villanova. Then probably UConn or Tennessee. BC is a candidate to win all of this thing. Do I think it will happen? Probably not. But if they play just a bit better for a bit longer than they played against Duke today and do it every game, they will win it all.
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