Boston Red Sox
Red Sox win thanks to Papelbon
Monday, May 11th, 2009 | Boston Red Sox, Chicago Bulls, MLB | No Comments
After a getting crushed Saturday the Boston Red Sox came back for a big win Sunday against the Rays. Papelbon the All-Star closer put himself in a jam when he allowed the first two Rays to get on base, but he was able to strak out the next three batters for the save. “I basically just put myself in a situation where I had to go in ‘punch out’ mode,” Papelbon said. “It’s not something I necessarily want to be in.” The Sox took two out of three in the breaking a six consecutive series victories by the Rays against Boston.Tampa Bay is 6-4 against Boston this season.
Dustin Pedroia had to leave in the 4th after straining his right groin during an at bat in the prior inning. The team said he is expected to play Wednesday.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Tampa Bay (15-18) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Boston (20-12) « | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | x | 4 | 9 | 2 |
|
Varitek, Red Sox & Maine, Mets Reach Deals
Sunday, February 1st, 2009 | Boston Red Sox, MLB, Sports | No Comments
Two late MLB deals to report:
The Boston Red Sox and free agent catcher Jason Varitek agreed on a 2-year deal on Friday. Varitek will earn $5 million during the 2009 MLB season. The Red Sox have a club option for the 2010 MLB season which would pay Tek $5 million if exercised. Tek has a player option for the 2010 MLB season which would pay him $3 million if exercised. The 2010 year also has incentives built in which could increase the payout by an additional $2 million.
The New York Mets and starting pitcher John Maine agreed upon a 1-year deal that will pay him $2.6 million during the 2009 MLB season. This means that the 2 sides will avoid salary arbitration. Maine had requested $3 million, while the Mets countered with $2.2 million. Maine will earn an additional $25,000 if he pitches 200 innings or more. During the 2008 MLB season, Maine earned $450,000 and went 10-8 with a 4.18 ERA in 25 starts.
Youkilis gets 4 years $40 million
Thursday, January 15th, 2009 | Boston Red Sox, Concerts, MLB | No Comments
The Red Sox have finalized a four year $40 million deal with Kevin Youkilis. The deal also includes an option for a fifth year. In 2008 Youkilis hit .312 with 29 home runs and 115 RBIs.
Red Sox will not raise 2009 ticket price
Thursday, November 13th, 2008 | Boston Red Sox, MLB, Sports | No Comments
The Red Sox have just announced they will not raise 2009 season ticket prices. This is the 1st time in 13 years prices will stay the same. The team that drew 3 million fans last year and has 469 consecutive home game sellouts. The questions I have is a team that has won 2 world series in the last 10 years is to going to raise prices, what will the Cubs do? I bet they hit the fans with a increase even after getting swept 2 years in a row in the playoffs and not winning a World Series in over 100 years.
Red Sox, Epstein Extend Relationship
Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 | MLB, Sports | No Comments
The Boston Red Sox and General Manager Theo Epstein recently confirmed that Epstein’s tenure with the Red Sox was extended for a period of time. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. A year after the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, Red Sox management and Epstein had a severe disagreement when negotiating a new contract and Epstein resigned from the position. The Red Sox did not fill the position and within 3 months, Epstein was back in the GM seat running the show.
Epstein became the youngest General Manager in MLB history when he took over the Red Sox GM job at the age of 28 in November 2002. Epstein’s main goal was to focus on scouting and player development in order to build from within. Having top young prospects enables a team to retain certain players to star on their own team and to trade other prospects in order to bring in top talent from other teams. Epstein and the Red Sox experienced immediate success, as the team won World Series titles in 2004 and 2007. The Red Sox have advanced to post-season play in all but 1 year during Epstein’s tenure. Current stars like Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon, Jacoby Ellsbury and Justin Masterson are examples of how the system created by Epstein has shined during the last 6 years. The Red Sox were smart to lock Epstein up on a long-term deal. Epstein is one of the best GM’s in the game, and he will continue to groom a well-oiled machine to the delight of Red Sox fans all across the country.
Rays Top Red Sox 3-1, Advance to 1st Ever World Series
Monday, October 20th, 2008 | MLB, Sports | No Comments
The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-1 to win Game 7 of the ALCS. With the win, the Rays will advance to the World Series for the 1st time in the club’s franchise. Rays pitcher Matt Garza stymied the Red Sox all night long, giving up only 1 earned run, 2 hits and 3 walks in 7 solid innings of work. Garza struck out 9 Red Sox batters, picked up his 2nd win of the ALCS and was named the ALCS Most Valuable Player. Young fireballer David Price worked out of a 2-out bases loaded jam in the 8th inning by striking out J.D. Drew and then worked a scoreless 9th inning to pick up his 1st career save. Price struck out 3 of the 4 batters he faced. Red Sox starter took his 2nd loss of the ALCS – the first time in his career that he has lost 2 consecutive games. Lester pitched 7 strong innings of 6-hit ball, striking out 8, but gave up costly hits to put the Red Sox behind. The Rays scored single runs in the 4th inning on an RBI-double by Evan Longoria, in the 5th inning on an RBI-single by Rocco Baldelli, and in the 7th inning on a solo home run by Willie Aybar. The Red Sox scored their lone run on a 1st inning home run by Dustin Pedroia and only managed 3 total hits against Garza and 4 Rays relievers.
The Rays will host the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the World Series at Tropicana Field on Wednesday, October 22nd at 8:00PM EST. The Phillies will start ace Cole Hamels, while the Rays have yet to name their World Series Game 1 starter.
Red Sox Magical Run Continues, Beat Rays 4-2 to Force Game 7
Sunday, October 19th, 2008 | MLB, Sports | No Comments
The Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 in Game 6 of the ALCS. The teams traded home runs by the Rays B.J. Upton and the Red Sox Kevin Youkilis. Kevin Youkilis added an RBI groundout in the 3rd inning to give the Red Sox a 2-1 lead. Rays shortstop and 9th man in the order, Jason Bartlett, tied the game in the 5th inning with a solo home run. In the top of the 6th inning, Red Sox Catcher and Captain picked up his 1st hit of the 2008 ALCS – a solo home run to right field which put the Sox ahead for good. Following a Bartlett error that would have gotten the Rays out of the inning, the Red Sox scored an all-important insurance run on an RBI single by David Ortiz to give the Red Sox a 4-2 lead. Josh Beckett picked up the win for the Red Sox in an efficient 78-pitch, 5 inning gutty performance. He gave up only 2 earned runs and 4 hits and stayed out of any serious jams. The Red Sox relievers did the rest – Hideki Okajima pitched 2 innings, John Masterson pitched 1 inning and Jonathan Papelbon pitched the 9th inning for the save – only allowing 1 Rays batter to reach base with a walk in the final 4 innings of the game. Rays starter James Shields pitched well despite not having good stuff all night long. He lasted into the 6th inning with over 100 pitches, and gave up 4 runs on 9 hits and 3 walks.
The Red Sox and Rays will determine the AL Pennant-winner in Game 7 of the ALCS on Sunday, October 19th. The Red Sox will throw ace Jon Lester, while the Rays will counter with Matt Garza.
Red Sox Overcome 7-run Deficit, Top Rays 8-7 To Force Game 6
Friday, October 17th, 2008 | MLB, Sports | No Comments
The Boston Red Sox overcame the largest deficit in an elimination game in MLB playoffs history with an 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bays Rays on Thursday, October 16th. When Red Sox relievers Manny Delcarmen and Jonathan Papelbon gave up 2 runs in the 7th inning, the Rays increased their lead over the Red Sox to 7-0 after 6 1/2 innings of play. In the bottom of the 7th inning, the Red Sox used a 2-out RBI single from Dustin Pedroia and then a mammoth 3-run home run from David Ortiz (his first home run of the 2008 post-season and his 1st post-season home run in over 80 at-bats) to cut the lead to 7-4. After Papelbon pitched a perfect top of the 8th inning with 2 strikeouts, the Red Sox cut the lead to 7-6 with a leadoff walk to Jason Bay and a monster home run to deep right field by J.D. Drew. Rays reliever Dan Wheeler was able to retire the next 2 batters, but eventually gave up the tying 7th run on a double by Mark Kotsay and an RBI-single by Coco Crips. Just like that, the Red Sox scored 7 runs in 2 innings and shifted the momentum back in their favor. Red Sox reliever Jon Masterson worked a stressful 9th inning where he allowed the go-ahead run to reach 2nd base with less than 2 outs. But Masterson induced a Carlos Pena double-play ball to quell the threat. In the bottom of the 9th inning, Rays reliever J.P. Howell retired Pedroia and Ortiz without incident, but an infield single by Kevin Youkilis on which Rays third baseman Evan Longoria made a costly throwing error set the stage for the miraculous comeback. With Youkilis at 2nd base, the Rays decided to walk Jason Bay to face J.D. Drew. And once again, Drew delivered the crushing blow with a game-winning line drive single over the head of Gabe Gross to drive in the winning run. Howell took the loss for the Rays and Masterson earned the win for the Red Sox. The Rays wasted a solid outing from Scott Kazmir – 6 shutout innings in which he walked 3, gave up 2 hits and struck out 7. Only his high 111 pitch-count took him out of a game they desperately needed him to finish. Once Kazmir left the game, the Red Sox tagged the Rays bullpen for 8 earbed runs on 9 hits. Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzakadid not have his best performance – he lasted only 4 innings giving up 5 earned runs on 5 hits – including 3 home runs by B.J. Upton, Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria.
Game 6 of the ALCS is set for 8:07PM on Saturday, October 18th. Josh Becket will take the bump for the Red Sox while the Rays will counter with James Shields. Beckett was ineffective in Game 2 of the ALCS – giving up 8 earned runs including 3 home runs in only 4/13 innings of work. Shields pitched well in Game 1 of the ALCS – 2 earned runs, 6 hits and 6 strikeouts in 7 1/13 innings of work – but took the loss as Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka out-dueled him. Will the Red Sox be able to continue their magical runs in recent post-season history? Only time will tell whether we have another magical story with a Tampa Bay Rays appearance in the World Series, or a 3rd World Series appearance by the Red Sox in only 5 years…
Red Sox Need Win Tonight To Force Series Back To Florida
Thursday, October 16th, 2008 | MLB, Sports | No Comments
The Boston Red Sox face the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series tonight, October 16th at Fenway Park in Boston. The Rays moved up ace Scott Kazmir to pitch tonight’s important game. Kazmir didn’t last 5 innings against the Red Sox in Game 2 of the ALCS – he gave up 5 runs and 6 hits (including 3 home runs) in the no decision – but Manager Joe Madden still has faith in his ace. The Red Sox will counter with Daisuke Matsuzaka. Matsuzaka has been the Red Sox most consistent pitcher throughout the 2008 post-season. Matsuzaka won Game 1 of the ALCS pitching 7 scoreless innings and giving up only 4 hits and 2 walks. The Red Sox have faced this situation before. In 2004, the Red Sox trailed the New York Yankees 3-0 in the ALCS before winning the next 8 games to win the ALCS and the 2004 World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2007, the Red Sox trailed the Cleveland Indians 3-1 in the ALCS before winning the next 7 games to win the ALCS and the 2007 World Series over the Colorado Rockies. The Red Sox seem to put it all together when their backs are against the wall. A Rays win tonight, on the other hand, puts the Rays into the World Series for the 1st time in the club’s franchise. Only time will tell whether the Rays head home to St. Petersburg to prepare for Game 6 against the Red Sox on Saturday, October 18th or to prepare for Game 1 of the World Series against the Philadlephia Phillies.
Rays Crush Red Sox 13-4, 1 Win Away From World Series
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 | MLB, Sports | No Comments
The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox 13-4 in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series – the Rays 3rd win in a row over the Red Sox. The Rays used the long ball again to set the tone for an early 5-0 after only 3 innings. Carlos Pena and Evan Longoris hit home runs in the 1st inning off Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield and Willie Aybar added a 2-run home run off of Wakefield in the 3rd inning. Wakefield ended up pitching only 2 2/3 innings – yielding 5 earned runs on 6 hits and 2 walks – and took the loss. Red Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen couldn’t keep the game close for the Red Sox in middle relief – he gave up 5 earned runs on 2 hits and 3 walks all in the 6th inning. By that point, the Rays had extended their lead to 11-1 and cruised onto the 13-4 win. Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine pitched effectively – giving up only 3 earned runs and 6 hits in 7 1/3 innings of work. Sonnanstine walked 1 and struck out 2. Red Sox slugger David Ortiz got his 1st hit and only 2nd run scored of the ALCS – a triple in the 7th inning. Red Sox Catcher Kevin Cash replaced Jason Varitek in the lineup and he hit a solo home run in the 3rd inning. For the Rays, Left Fielder Carl Crawford went 5 for 5 with 2 RBI’s and 3 runs scored, while Designated Hitter Willie Aybar went 4 for 5 with 5 RBI’s and 1 run scored.
For the 2nd straight year, the Red Sox find themselves in a 3 games to 1 in the ALCS. Last year, the Red Sox trailed the Cleveland Indians 3-1 in the ALCS, before Josh Beckett pitched a gem in Game 5 of the ALCS in Cleveland, forcing the series back to Fenway Park where the Red Sox won the last 2 games of the series to advance to thier 2nd World Series in 4 years. This year, the Red Sox hope Daisuke Matsuzaka can spin some magic in Game 5 of the ALCS at Fenway Park. A win would send the series back to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg where the Red Sox would use Josh Beckett in Game 6 and Jon Lester in Game 7. The Rays will counter with James Shields on Thursday October 16th.
