RhyNewSports

Don't blame the players for being sissies

2010-07-28T13:56:00.007-04:00

by Doc Rhyne, RNSports

[This post was inspired by a conversion on the Facebook wall of RNSports friend Ed Achorn, author of Fifty-nine in '84: Old Hoss Radbourne, Barehanded Baseball & the Greatest Season a Pitcher Ever Had, currently available wherever books are sold. In that discussion, Ed wondered aloud which players today certainly could not have cut it in the 19th Century's rough-and-tumble version of the game. The usual suspects were named: Manny, A-Rod, J.D. Drew, etc. Then so-called "tough" players were named, also the usual suspects: Jeter, Pedroia, Youkilis, etc.

[My response:]

I think we have to make a distinction between pitchers and position players. Teams talk about liking pitchers who "want to be handed the ball" regardless of the situation, and yet impose pitch counts on games and even seasons, limit appearances, etc. No hurler today would be allowed to repeat Radbourn's effort. On the other hand, position players are expected to go out and play every day, regardless of the situation, and yet are rested, platooned, and shuffled through rosters, teams and the DL like so many cards in a deck.

The common thread here is that ownership has so much capital invested in its assets (i.e., players), that it won't risk their depreciation. As fans, it's easy to pick on prima donna superstars; but for the vast majority of players (especially if you consider those in the minor leagues), ownership won't give players the opportunity to do what they did in 1884. Gone are the days when a manager would put his "nine best players on the field" every day.

Having said that, and I know he's retired, how 'bout Schilling?

The Case of Robert Swift and the Need for the NBA to do a Better Job of Reaching out and Helping its Youngest Talent

2009-12-24T00:05:00.009-05:00

by Robert Rosen

I have no problem with high school basketball players skipping college to play for pay. In fact, I think the idea of players being able to bypass college in order to go directly to the NBA is better than the current NBA rule requiring high school players to spend at least one year in college.

Don’t try to tell me those All-American caliber players who are good enough to play in the NBA right out of high school plan on spending more than one year in college to get their degree. While some of them spend more than one year in college, it’s due to the fact that they didn’t have a good freshman season, not because they want to go to class. The human body only has so long to perform at its highest level, but you can always go back to school to get a degree at any time, so that point is moot as well.

The problem is when these young players get to the professional level, be it the NBA or overseas, there aren’t enough people around them to help them learn how to be adults (i.e. paying bills). There have been countless players over the years who have squandered their millions and ended up broke. Rumeal Robinson, the former University of Michigan (by way of Cambridge Rindge and Latin) player who hit the game-winning free throws in overtime of the 1989 National Championship Game against Seton Hall, spent six years in the NBA. Robinson is now homeless and facing multiple financial related charges. He is even being blamed for his adoptive mother losing the house she’d been living in for 20 or so years. He is just one of many players that have had similar experiences. Even star players like Charles Barkley have admitted throwing away millions of dollars on unnecessary things such as gambling, although a player who’s made as much as Barkley isn’t hurting overall for cash.

Many people, including me, made fun of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ young star Sidney Crosby when they found out he lived with Hall-of-Famer Mario Lemeuix, the teams’ owner. It seemed funny that a professional athlete lived with his boss as if he needed a babysitter. And while I’m not saying that NBA teams need to go to such extremes, the league and individual teams need to do a better job of looking out for its young players, as they are the future of the league. In fairness to the NBA, the league does have a mandatory training session for rookies prior to the season to teach them about a number of things, but does a 2-3 day program really do enough to make a difference?

The Seattle Supersonics took Robert Swift with the 12th pick in the 2004 NBA Draft out of Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, California, ahead of players such as Al Jefferson, J.R. Smith, Jameer Nelson and Anderson Verejao. The 7-1 center played sparingly as a rookie, then had his best season as a professional his sophomore year when he averaged 6.4 point and 5.6 rebounds per game. It looked like Swift might continue to improve and possibly become a viable NBA center at some point in the near future; however, the vast amount of turmoil in the Sonics’ organization (no wonder the team’s in Oklahoma City now) left Swift without much support. It didn’t help that the team didn’t even have a strength coach, much less any other coaches, for a few months at one point. The lack of a coaching staff left Swift to work out himself after he had suffered a knee injury, so he couldn’t properly rehab it. He gained 40 pounds of upper body muscle, which in turn caused more stress on his surgically repaired knee, causing him to miss more court time and leading to another surgical procedure.

No NBA teams signed Swift this year, so he signed with the Bakersfield Jam in the D-League. He recently went AWOL from the team, and it’s uncertain about his future. It looks like it’s possible Swift is giving up basketball for good after a short career in which he earned approximately $11 million. But, at just 24, it looks like Robert Swift may be putting an end to his once promising basketball career, which could potentially be thriving if he had been given the assistance young men barely out of their teens should be given when they first enter adulthood by becoming a member of the NBA.

Despite Hard Work, "Screaming Eagles" Not Invited to Bowl Game

2009-12-18T05:18:00.010-05:00

By Robert Rosen

The Boston College “Screaming Eagles” Marching Band was told on December 9, that they would not be going to the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco that will be played on December 26, against the University of Southern California.

The BC Athletic Department said that, while financial considerations were a part of this decision, the main reason was the proximity of the Emerald Bowl to Christmas.

Jack Dunn, a spokesman for Boston College, told the Boston Globe, “Given the timing of the bowl, over the Christmas weekend, the decision was made so as not to impose on band members to miss Christmas with their families,” Dunn said.

The explanation that the game is too close to Christmas doesn’t make sense based on BC’s past participation in Bowl Games, especially when you take in to account the fact that teams generally fly out to their Bowl Game’s destination five days or more prior to the game to participate in various functions and activities. BC played in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando on December 28, 2007, meaning the team arrived in Orlando on the 23rd at the latest, which means the team spent Christmas together. In 2006, BC played in Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte on December 30th, meaning the football team probably left the Boston area on Christmas. And while there are many other examples from this decade, my personal favorite is the Jeep Aloha Bowl played in 2000…on Christmas! So to use the fact that the “Screaming Eagles” can’t travel to the Emerald Bowl because of its proximity to Christmas is a bunch of you know what.

The excuse about the financial considerations is completely bogus as well because, according to the Boston College Athletic Website, the Athletic Department received a record $21 million in donations in 2008. This amount is significantly higher than the $3.6 million the Athletic Department received just ten years earlier in 1998. BC will also receive $750,000 for their football team’s participation in the Emerald Bowl. BC gave 272 students athletic scholarships this year totally slightly less than $14 million and, while there are several non-revenue producing sports, the ACC school will receive earnings from the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament (provided they are selected to participate) as well as some hockey events, such as the Beanpot.

The BC Marching Band was founded in 1919 and currently has over 180 members. In most years not every member has traveled to Bowl Games, although the entire band did travel to Orlando in 2007. Supposedly at least 30-40 band members are sent to Bowl Games each year, including each of the last 10 Bowl appearances the Eagles have made. Typically the Dance Team also travels to Bowl Games with the Marching Band to perform with them, something Boston College’s own website doesn’t say otherwise. “All members typically attend one predetermined away football game and any of the post season games (e.g. ACC championship or a bowl game) with the full Marching Band,” it reads on the Dance Team’s page on the athletic website. I believe I just read something about the Marching Band and Dance Team going to ANY postseason game or Bowl Game.

College is supposed to be more than just studying and taking tests; it’s supposed to be about growing as a person and learning about life out in the world to better yourself in order to fully reach your potential by experiencing as much as you can in what is a small period of your lifetime. But I’d say that there are people in the Boston College administration who don’t care about giving the “Screaming Eagles” and the Dance Team the full college experience that they have certainly worked hard to earn. There’s a Pep Rally the morning of the Emerald Bowl and, although the Trojans don’t have to travel as far as the Eagles to get to San Francisco, their band will be out there in full force. Who’s going to represent Boston College?

11-year-olds and the fundamental creepiness of the Little League World Series

2009-08-19T10:27:00.002-04:00

By Dan Baer

As is seemingly the case every year in this state, one of the local Little League teams has won the regional championship and is headed for the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA this week.

This, of course, means that the local and national media circus is pitching the tent and painting up the clowns, ready to crown Peabody West Little League as the greatest group of 11-year-old's to slap together a baseball team in Massachusetts history.

Worldwide it seems the LLWS has become a symbol of purity and camaraderie among the youngest of baseball players, but I am at the point in my life where I can't take it any more. The LLWS has to be one of the most over-hyped, over done, creepiest sports tournaments around and I don't think it is OK.

Is it great for the kids? Of course. Is it a good experience for both families and youth baseball? Yes. Should it be done away with? Of course not.

On the other hand, you have to ask yourself a few more questions. Is the LLWS actually good baseball? Not even close. Should it be glorified in a prime-time national broadcast on ESPN? Absolutely not. Could a bunch of kids a few weeks away from returning to school make better use of their time- and their parents, who have to take weeks off of work, better use of their money? Yes. Is there something extremely creepy about grown adults with no affiliation to the team getting excited about a group of 11-year-olds playing a poor quality of baseball? That would be a resounding yes.

There is something fundamentally weird to me when I ponder the thought of normal, every day people enjoying watching these little kids play baseball. Unless it is your kid, or a friend of the family, or your under 14, there is absolutely no reason to take any interest in Little League.

First of all, I don't care what anyone says, it is not good baseball. It is not “pure” unless if by pure you mean underdeveloped and sloppy. Every year there is some team from somewhere that has some kid who looks like he is 17 (remember Danny Almonte?) that dominates every game, and most of the games are either decided by a late-game mistake or a 150 foot home run. Sure, its fun for those kids, a great experience. Congratulations. I have no interest in watching your error-filled mess of a baseball game.

Every day, all across the country, kids are learning to play sports in all sorts of youth leagues. Soccer, basketball, baseball, football, go cart racing, hockey. Why does Little League get all of the glory? It isn't played any better than those other kids playing those other sports. Furthermore, I am willing to bet that those New York City rec league youth basketball teams (who probably play at a much higher level than any Little League team) will never have the opportunity- or financial backing- to play in a “worldwide” tournament.

Now, lets get one thing straight. I am not by any means suggesting that the LLWS not be played. What I am asking is that it not be played on national TV, and even more specifically, I am asking that people with little to no affiliation to the team find something better to do with their time.

For an example of the outlandish media coverage, we can examine the very publication that signs my paychecks, who has decided to send four, yes FOUR people to the LLWS this week to cover the Peabody West team that emerged from this region (keep in mind this is the same newspaper that is laying people off because it has no money).

I understand that this is a big story, but does it really warrant blanket coverage? Should there be anything more than a reporter and photographer there? To be honest, in almost any other case, we would have written down the coaches phone number and called him after the game from our desks. But apparently the whole world has gone mad for Little League. Who knew?

To make matters worse, some of the reporters here (they know better than to ask me) have been sent out to Route 1 to interview businesses about why they support the team. Really? That is a head scratcher. Better get a few more investigative reporters on that case.

At the national level, my disgust with ESPN is at an all time high. How can a network that essentially devotes 30-seconds a day to some major sports like hockey, soccer and NASCAR (who it has a contract with, by the way), justify leading off highlight shows and bumping programming for a bunch of kids playing a glorified sand lot baseball game?

That said, perhaps the largest problem I have with the LLWS overall has nothing to do with the media hype or the coverage, or the creepiness of 30-year-old single men getting excited about watching these games. It comes down to something as simple as crying.

Watch the LLWS this week and I promise you that every losing team will have one thing in common- A tear-filled mess of a breakdown as soon as they lose. Kids crying like their families were kidnapped, or their dog was run over by a bus right in front of them.

I'll get over the coverage. I'll get over the creepy dudes. I'll even get over the anger I feel toward my own employer. But kids, there is no crying in baseball.

Tony LaRussa, baseball super genius

2009-08-03T20:37:00.012-04:00

By Brett M. Rhyne

"The philosophy of one century is the common sense of the next."
—Henry Ward Beecher

On this day in 1979, the Chicago White Sox named Tony LaRussa manager, and changed baseball forever. LaRussa managed in Chicago eight years, then moved on to Oakland, where he managed for 10 years and won three consecutive AL pennants and a World Series title. He is currently in his 14th year managing the St. Louis Cardinals, where he has won two NL pennants and a World Series title. With 2,519 career wins, LaRussa ranks third all-time, behind only Connie Mack and John McGraw.

What I find most noteworthy about LaRussa is his strategic innovation; specifically, he invented the modern-day bullpen structure. For much of baseball history, teams only had a "bullpen ace:" a go-to bullpen guy who was used in almost all close games, whether a team was ahead or behind. It wasn't until the 1960's that what we today call a "closer" — a reliever who is only brought in when his team has a lead late in the game — began to emerge. These proto-closers would frequently pitch two or even three innings a game. Even then, most other relief pitchers, generally speaking, were guys who weren't good enough to be in the starting rotation.

What LaRussa started to do in the Eighties was designate specific roles to his relief pitchers:

The closer only pitched the ninth, or infrequently, part of the eighth inning.

The set-up man pitched the eighth — and sometimes the seventh as well — to provide a bridge from the starter to the closer.

The left-handed specialist was usually a southpaw who comes in to face one or two particularly dangerous left-handed batters in the opposing lineup.

There might be a fireballer, usually a righty, to come in and face one or two batters when there were men on base and a strikeout was required.

And the long reliever was often a veteran at the tail end of his career who could step in and pitch three or four innings should the game's starter get knocked out early.

Since LaRussa began developing this bullpen structure, the quality and value of the pitchers who fill these roles has continued to increase. On very good teams, with a lot of resources, relievers are no longer necessarily the lesser-talented pitchers on a staff; in fact, many players have made careers of filling these bullpen niches. It's a testament to LaRussa's genius that we take for granted this relief corps structure, and that it is now found in just about every bullpen in the majors. Kudos to you, Tony LaRussa!

Blaise Collins

Love this!

Grace Adair

I don't know if his philosophy has necessarily been a good thing, but he's certainly been a successful manager.

I personally hated scoring games when he was managing against Valentine. They both would go psycho with the pitching changes and double switches... by the 8th inning I'd either run out of room on the scorecard, or just throw my hands in the air & give up.

Nathaniel Heidenheimer

For a genius he certainly has caused me to a lot of implants to pull out. \He seems to have a knach for pinchhitting with citizens who have not had a hit since april of 1915 and in the eight with runners on and first and third with one out. He lost last nights game. Thinks too much. Way overrated.

Brett M. Rhyne

Another thought on LaRussa: his gaudy win total is due in no small part to longevity — although one must be a pretty good manager to remain employed for so long — and his career .534 winning percentage only ranks 63rd all-time. What is impressive, though, is that his teams won their division 12 out of 30 times (and the Cardinals are currently in first as well. In recent memory, only Bobby Cox (15 of 29) and Joe Torre (13 of 27) are better, and we all know the resource-rich franchises they managed.

Dan Baer

Good manager, he was very innovative. I think Denis Eckersly can thank him for his Hall of Fame plaque. That said, I hated the "Bash Brothers" and Ricky Henderson, so I am contractually obligated to also hate Tony LaRussa.

Brett M. Rhyne

I agree about Eck, as well as the Cash Brothers (juicers). Hendu was a god, and entertaining to boot; I was disappointed in his uncharacteristically modest HOF speech —he thanked his MOTHER, for god's sake. And Tony's loyalty to McGwire, as well as his enabling of the whole steroid culture in Oakland, is inexcusable —except, as a realist, LaRussa only cared about winning.

Dan Baer

... the same could be said about Bill Belichick. Football's version of Tony LaRussa?

Brett M. Rhyne

In a lot of ways, yes. Certainly the strategic innovation and the desire to do anything to win, sure. Did you read Holley's "Patriot Reign"? Didn't do justice to Belichick's — or the organization's — genius. Certainly not the way Mike Lewis did for Billy Beane in "Moneyball," still the gold standard for works of this genre.

And "Ball Four", of course. Shitfuck!

Susie Sampierre Lmt

Ball Four - omg - Jim Bouton - love the story that pepatone says about putting talcum powder in the blow dryers.....hee hee.

Brett M. Rhyne

I almost said "Aw, shitfuck!" was my favorite curse. I was using it a lot, until the wife told me it was unflattering. So now I can't use it, at least around the house. Aw, shitfuck.

Dan Baer

I never read Holley's book, which is surprising because I am a big Michael Holley fan. Did not like Moneyball tho. Billy Beane came off to me as too pretentious for his own good, and well... the A's haven't won a thing since the LaRussa days.

Brett M. Rhyne

This is true. I think Beane is more high-strung and controlling than he is pretentious, as evidenced by the way he treated manager Art Howe —telling him how to stand in the dugout, "trading" him to the Mets after the season, etc. There's a detached, almost alienated way he treats players and coaches, like they're Strat-o-Matic cards come to life. Around the year Lewis chronicled (2002), the A's had a rotation of Hudson, Zito and Mulder, Isringhausen in the pen, and averaged 98 wins, but still couldn't make it out of the first round of the postseason. So while I do think Beane's general management philosophy is brilliant, even revolutionary, he clearly doesn't get the human element. This is where a good field manager comes in, but Beane doesn't allow his field managers the freedom to do their job.

Brett M. Rhyne

I do think Beane is to general management what LaRussa is to field management —maybe even more game-changing. Witness the Red Sox.

Dan Baer

Well, that was going to be my next point. Theo has done Moneyball better than Beane. Although, he has MANY more resources to work with, and a good field manager in Tito, too. I always liked Art Howe, but he never did anything after his Oakland days, either.

Those A's teams were horrifically disappointing. Aside from the rotation, don't forget they had a juiced up Giambi brothers and Miguel Tejada the year he won the MVP. Not to mention Eric Chavez at third and if I remember correctly, Jermaine Dye was in the outfield there for a few years, too.

Brett M. Rhyne

Not sure about Dye, but the A's did have stellar everyday players, thanks in large part to Beane's brilliant strategy of drafting undervalued players. As usual, the Sox are problematic because of their limitless resources —moneyball on steroids. Although, interestingly, the most Beanesque elements of their approach (drafting, farm system, trades) have been much more fruitful than their Steinbrennerish ones (i.e., free agent signings). Still, it takes a lot of money to sign good draftees, and to run a good farm system.

Dan Baer

Dye was with the A's from 01-04, so he would have been right there with those guys.

Your 100 percent right about the Sox. It is amazing to me that such a well-run franchise can whif on so many guys (Drew, Dice K, anyone who has played shortstop in the last 6 years not named Orlando Cabrerra) but their farm system rivals the early 90's Braves.

I will say that Clay Buchholz has done nothing to impress me, though.

Brett M. Rhyne

Cabrera was good, but he came in the Nomar trade, I believe. Alex Gonzalez was a good free agent shortstop, so of course they had to let him go.

Buchholz has been hyped far beyond his actual talent, something the Sox also have a knack for. They should have traded him last week; the more he pitches, the lower his value. (Maybe this is why they kept him in the minors all year.)

Dan Baer

Agreed. If I had to chose Buchholz or Masterson, I'll take the latter. He will be a solid #3 or #4 guy for the Indians. Glad to see Dan Bard sticking around. I'm not a Papelbon fan (young roger clemens) and the thought of Bard blowing that 100 mph fastball past hitters in a year or two gets me tingly

Brett M. Rhyne

Papelbon's act got tired a couple years ago. His arm seems to be catching up, as well. I also think Cleveland got a terrific young pitcher in Masterson, but the Sox did very well in that trade, too. You have to give quality to get quality. I wonder if Theo offered Buchholz for Martinez straight up and the Indians refused.

Dan Baer

wouldn't surprise me. he kind of has that Bronson Arroyo build, and we all saw what happened to him in Cincy... not much. I was disappointed to hear that Oakland offered Orlando Cabrerra for Buchholz straight up and the Sox turned it down. I guess whatever bad blood was there after 04 is still lingering.

Brett M. Rhyne

I never did get why the Sox didn't try to resign him. Were they just gaga over Renteria? Any insights?

Dan Baer

I have heard through some semi-reliable sources that there were a few off the field incidents, potentially involving some love interests of other players, but that kind of dirty laundry stuff is rarely confirmed. It would make sense tho. If you remember, John Henry kind of went on a crusade to lose guys like that (D-Lowe).

I don't know the real reason, but it can't be related to anything on the field, especially if they still won't take him back. He is exactly what they need at that position and he was available cheap at the deadline.

3 & out: Sox-Yanks, June 9-11

2009-06-12T09:46:00.007-04:00

Brett M. Rhyne

"A series doesn't mean anything unless you sweep." —Earl Weaver

So sayeth the legendary curmudgeon of the Orioles dugout; in this case, the meaning is a three-game swing at the top of the AL East: the Yanks came into town one game up, and left two games out. Ahhhh.

The good:

Sox starting pitching. Josh Beckett continued his streak of dominance, Brad Penny pitched his best game of the year (outduelling C.C. Sabathia yet), and Tim Wakefield was predictably workmanlike. The knuckleballer continues to be the most engaging Sox story of the last 15 years.
Sox relievers, for the most part. Shut-down performances by Daniel Bard, Hideki Okajima and Takashi Saito highlighted this MLB-best bullpen. Jonathan Papelbon saved two games in dramatic fashion, thanks in no small part to some terrific defense behind him.
Timely offense. While it was the Sox's pitching that won this series, they hit when they had to. Stalwarts Kevin Youkilis, Jason Bay, Mike Lowell delivered; J.D. Drew continued his assault on the OBP title from the two-hole; and David Ortiz flirted with the Medoza Line, showing power to center and the opposite field.
Timely defense. 1B Youk, 2B Dustin Pedroia, SS Nick Green and part-time CF Rocco Baldelli all made big plays when they had to, saving runs, killing rallies and winning games and the gratitude of their pitchers.
Mark Teixiera. Truly a great player with the bat and the glove. All he does is anchor the Yankee lineup and defense; the calm eye of the chaotic Yankee hurricane. To a lesser degree, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada; special kudos to the latter for hitting without gloves, old-school style. (The same shout goes out to Wake's former C, Doug Mirabelli.)
Sabathia. He was dominant for seven innings, even with long half-innings on the bench; it's not his fault Yankees manager Joe Girardi pulled a Grady Little.

The bad:

Sox relivers Ramon Ramirez and Manny Delcarmen, both of whom imploded and needed to be bailed out. They've been stellar to this point, so we'll give them a mulligan. Hell, everyone's entitled to a bad day. Tellingly, despite their foibles, both their ERAs remain under 2.
Yankees managing. Who else gets the sense that Girardi and pitching coach Dave Eiland are in over their heads? They make the wrong moves, both on the field and off. How much better would this team be with Phil Hughes in the rotation and Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen? Do it already.

The ugly:

Yankees pitching. With the exception of Sabathia and Hughes' early relief of Chien-Ming Wang, the Bombers' arms were horrendous. Good thing John Smoltz is almost back. Oh wait, that's the Red Sox…

Who the hell plays for the Mets, anyway? and other random thoughts

2009-05-22T20:18:00.010-04:00

Brett M. Rhyne

Random thoughts while watching the Mets @ the Red Sox, Friday, May 22:

• Who the hell plays for the Mets, anyway? We recognize Gary Sheffield, and Johan Santana, of course. Maybe that's because they're refugees from the AL. But where's Jose Reyes, and Carlos Beltrán, and Carlos Delgado? And how is it these no-names are whipping the Old Towne Team?

• RhyNewSports fan David Borsykowsky — the most self-deprecaing Mets fan we know — is fond of pointing out that when the Mets signed Shef, manager Jerry Manuel lauded his "historic bat." As opposed to what he can do with it now, we suppose.

• Watching Daisuke Matsuzaka pitch makes us think he belongs in the NL, with its better defenses and weaker offenses. Maybe with the pitchers hitting, he'd last a little longer in the games. And if they had to yank him after five, the team might actually benefit, since they'd get to use a pinch-hitter or do a double-switch or pull some other such goofy Senior Loop shenanigans. Plus, Dice-K's not too bad a hitter himself.

• No disrespect to Jerry Remy, and we hope he recovers some his surgery and returns soon, but we're enjoying Eck doing color for the games. He's more, well, colorful, and besides, isn't it fun to say (or write) "Eck"? The Rem Dawg thing is getting a little old. Maybe NESN (or the radio team) could go to a three-man booth.

• Some dopey Met just tried to go first-to-third on a bunt. Did he not realize the Sox have Gold Glovers at first (Youk) and third (Lowell)? What a maroon.

• OK, Papi's now 0-3, with 2 K's and a GIDP. Way to go, slugger.

Manny Juiced?

2009-05-07T16:40:00.002-04:00

Manny is going to be suspended 50 games for taking a league banned substance. HGH? no. Steroids? no. The answer is simply not that easy. According to sources close to Manny, he was taking medicine to overcome some personal dysfunction. Not the dysfuntion he brought the Boston Red Sox, but the other dysfuntion. Erectile. Manny has apparently have been having issues, and saw a doctor. He got prescribed to these pills, which happen to have an ingrediant which is banned by the MLB. I have a different theory. Manny, who is known to show up late, leave early ect... wants to take some time off. What better way than to get suspened 50 games by taking a banned subtance. Not just any banned substance either, but one that isnt steroids and can be played off a mistake. He wont be getting paid for those 50 games, but many has already thought this one out. He has bought stock in the company that supplies the pills, and when this all goes public, the maker of the pill will see its stock go up. Manny is giving the company publicity, he makes money, and gets the summer off from baseball. Sounds to me like a conpsiracy, or is it just Manny being Manny?

Steven Orsini

Is Papi Done?

2009-05-05T10:09:00.005-04:00

Dylan Payne

David Ortiz has been known as the Boston Red Sox most clutch hitter since he signed with the team in 2003. He put the team on his back in the '04 ALCS when they came back to beat the Yankees and has had numerous game winning and clutch hits since. However his bat has started to slow and he has yet to hit a home run this season and sports a lowly .208 average with only 12 RBI's. He is off to an awful start and unlike last year where he had injuries to blame, there are no excuses. He was said to have come into spring training in shape and ready to go. After watching him in the WBC, though, I feared that this could be the type of season he would have. His bat speed seems to be gone and he can't drive anything. I think that Terry Francona should swap Jason Bay and Ortiz in the batting order since Bay has become the new captain clutch, and it will take pressure off of Papi since he won't be in the 3 hole anymore. Whether or not he ever breaks out of this slump David Ortiz will still be a Boston legend and a huge part of 2 world series championships in 4 years.

Bruins Get Hurricane Warning----by Jason Rexinis

2009-05-04T15:24:00.003-04:00

In game one of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals the Bruins cruised to an easy 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Leaving off where they embarassed Carolina during the regular season winning all four games against each other with the Bruins outscoring Caroline 18-6. However, Sunday night in Boston was a different story. I was lucky enough to be at game 2 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals sitting six rows back watching my beloved Bruins frustration first hand. The Hurricanes absolutley shut down the Bruins in the nuetral zone. They were intercepting every pass, making sure no offense was generated. It was frustrating watching the game because I knew excatly how the B's felt. Carolina's game plan was to shut down any offense and play a sound game defensively. They did just that.

Cam Ward stopped all 36 shots that the Bruins threw at him. He didn't have to make many big saves until the third period when the Bruins desperation kicked into high gear. The B's outshot Carolina 16-3 in the third period and still could not get anything past Ward. It looked like the old Cam Ward from the Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes in 2005-2006. The goals Carolina scored were sub par and you really can not blame Thomas for any of them. Carolina added an empty net goal in the final 15 seconds of the game to put the icing on the cake. The Bruins got away from their tenacious forechek and physical play and let Carolina off the hook easy in their defensive zone. Carolina is a good team with smart defensmen and a great goalie, but in order for the Bruins to take this series, they need to get back to simple hockey. They need to play their game forecheck hard and keep the puck out of their defensive zone. Game three is going ot be very intersting in Carolina on Wednesday night.

Bruins look for another win! By Gianna Addario

2009-05-03T14:42:00.001-04:00

On Friday night, the Bruins beat the Carolina Hurricanes in the first game of the second round. They did it with poise and intensity. The Bruins came out strong in the first period and entered the second tied 1-1. The first goal for the Bruins was scored by defenseman Aaron Ward. Marc Savard scored twice, and Michael Ryder continues to dazzle in the playoffs with another goal. Tim Thomas made 26 saves between the pipes.

If they can continue to be brilliant like this is the upcoming games, they could possibly win the series in 4 games again. But I don't want to get ahead of myself, it's only game 2. It's really amazing to see the Bruins play like the Bruins of the past.

There was some speculation that because of the 11 day rest, the Bruins might have been rusty. Maybe there was a little bit of rust in the first period, but they got rid of any as the game went on. If things couldn't get any better for the Bruins, Claude Julien was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award for NHL coach of the year.

My Top 3 Boston Sports Bars - Amanda Musial

2009-05-02T17:04:00.008-04:00

1. The Greatest Bar

Located on Friend Street, across from TD Banknorth Garden, this bar is one of my favorites for a couple of reasons. First off they have a ton of screens throughout the space showing some of the most well known moments in Boston sports; perfect to go with someone of any age. The bar/restaurant has four floors and each with a different theme. The first floor is a very laidback, dancefloor area meanwhile the fourth floor is very restaurant-like. They have great food while you wait for your game to start, and great bars on each floor. They also have great DJ's on the weekends!

2. GameOn!

GameOn has won the Best of Boston every year since 2005, and for good reason. Located right on Lansdowne Street, it's a great place to get a drink before the game, or watch the game right there. They have over 90(!!) TVs to choose from! They have great events all week long including a ton of ways to win tickets to some of your favorite Boston teams. I love it here!

3. Boston Beer Works

If you love beer, obviously you WILL love Boston beer works. They have great food, my personal favorite is the clam chowder! The best anywhere that I've ever had, seriously! They have two locations; in Boston and Salem and is just a fun relaxed atmosphere. Their menu is made up of Boston-esque names; very thoughtful! They make their own beer and have a variety of house flavors and a lot of seasonal ones too. My favorite beer served all year round is blueberry (with real blueberries included!) and my favorite seasonal beer is watermelon. Check it out!

Whose Magic Will Make it to The Magics?

2009-05-01T15:33:00.007-04:00

Sherene Abu-Hijleh

What a game last night! Three overtimes, three of our key players, Perkins, Pierce, and Davis, fouling out within the final minutes of the game, losing by one point. Now the Bulls and Celtics are making their way back to the Garden.

The series could have been over last night in Chicago. Everyone though we had it when Rondo took his jumper. But when Rose blocked it, it was total heartache for the C's. The Bulls charged through the rest of the game and overcame the Celtics in the end.

What about homecourt advantage? Did that play a factor? Some of the calls Tom Heinson named, "Chicago Foul." I couldn't agree more. Don't get me wrong, the referees called a fair game. But, when time was winding down, there were a few calls that could have been avoided. One such call sent Miller to the line. Those 2 points that he made at the fould line could have been avoided.

Now we come to a game 7. Tomorrow night, in Boston, 8 pm sharp. This series has been the most memorable, nailbiting, ridiculous, yet amazing series I have ever seen! I can only imagine what game 7 is going to look like. I'm sure it's going to look just like games 1-6. All I can say to that is, "oh Lord."

One team is going to go home in triumph. The other, total heartache. Both teams have played their heart and souls in every game this series. All players have left their blood, sweat, and tears on that court. This is what I call true basketball.

Every single player has given it their all throughout every minute of the game. There are battle wounds. Pierce with stiches in his nose, Miller with a bloody mouth, and let's not forget the dispute between Rondo and Hinrich.

It all comes down to tomorrow night. Who has the magic to get to the Magics? Is there even any magic left for either team? This series is exhausting to watch. I can only imagine how exhausting it is to play!

We'll just have to wait and see who goes home to prepare for Orlando and who just goes home. Tomorrow night, 8pm, TD Banknorth Garden. I know i'll be watching! You should too!

Bulls Steal Game 6 From Celtics In 3 OT's BY: Jason Gasbarro

2009-04-30T23:26:00.005-04:00

After almost having a heart attack from watching the first five games of this dramatic series, you couldn't help but hold your breath through this series altering game six between the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls. Just when you thought the Celtics were going to put away the game and the series an all important turnover from Celtic captain Paul Piece led to an easy dunk and a three point play. This was the momentum changer in this already dramatic series. The game was played in Chicago and the Bulls had control of the game for the most part, but did not have an answer for Ray Allen who scored a career playoff high 51 points in the game, including a couple three point shots when it seemed like the Celtics had no hope. Allen, who ended with nine three pointers hit a clutch three over Kirk Hinrich to force a third overtime in the final seconds of overtime number two. The game came down to its final possession having the Celtics down by just one and the ball in Rajon Rondo's hands. Instead of driving to the basket and either kicking it out or drawing a foul, Rondo decided to try a fade away jump shot that was perfectly played by rookie of the year Derrick Rose. Although the Celtics could not finish the series in Chicago, they will have a final chance back in Boston on Saturday. The Celtics also were without Glenn Davis Kendrick Perkins and Paul Pierce for most of the overtime since they all fouled out. You have to give it to the young Bulls players for their overall determination and effort to force a game 7. Get ready for another dramatic game in this already historic series.

Crosby vs. Ovechkin

2009-04-30T21:47:00.004-04:00

Dave Pazzaglia

It has been a long time since the NHL has seen two superstar players that were the face of the game such as Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky. This Saturday will mark the start of the second round series of playoffs, in journey to the Stanley Cup, with two of the most prolific athletes that the sport of hockey has long been waiting for. These two superstars are Sidney Crosby or “Sid the Kid” as known by teammates and fans, and Alexander Ovechkin, also known as “Alexander the Great.” The two are the faces of their franchises and the NHL representing their respective teams of the Pittsburg Penguins (Crosby) and the Washington Capitals (Ovechkin).

Since entering the league in 2005 together the two have once again brought excitement to the game and been linked statistically and through their personal rivalry since the beginning. Crosby, a center and captain of the Penguins was the first overall pick in 2005 and hails from Cole Harbour, NS, Canada. Ovechkin, a left winger, was drafted 1^st overall in 2004 and hails from the Moscow, Russia.

Crosby is referred to as a personality like a movie star with Ovechkin having the rock star personality. This rock star personality was shown last week on ESPN show E60 with Ovechkin whipping around his brand new Mercedes SL 65 where he admits driving 180 mph. Aside from this the clubs, drinking, and of course the women is all shown in this biography that direct relates to his style on ice. Ovechkin is 220 pounds of pure power and speed, with an uncanny amount of energy. Ovechkin celebrates goals by speeding around jumping off glass and putting the fire out on his hockey stick. Crosby a smooth skater, gritty player, with keen vision keeps his emotions in check until the two meet on the ice like during their last regular season matchup where both threw shots at each other on and off the ice.

Although it’s not the Stanley Cup, this series will forever be remembered as the first playoff battle of the two faces of their respective franchise on who comes out on top. Sports analyst are referring to the rivalry as similar to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson (especially the 1979 NCAA National Championship between the two) with Crosby having the same characteristics and composure of Bird and Ovechkin being loud, outspoken, and very confident like that of Magic. The sports world and the hockey world now have the rivalry between the Canadian star of Crosby and the Russian star of Ovechkin. Whether or not you like hockey you can only respect what these two are doing and will do for the sport of hockey. The rivalry will be at its highest peak beginning Saturday where the two meet for the first time in playoffs to mark a piece of history and many more to come.

MLB Top Five

2009-04-29T14:07:00.003-04:00

Baseball is a tough sport to predict week to week. We had to Red sox go form an ugly start to the best team in baseball in very short time. We had the Yankees go into a downward spriral. We also still have the Blue Jays on top also. So who's the best right now?

1. Red Sox: The sox are red hot right now. They went on a 11 game win streak, while sweeping the yanks. The Yanks arent the yanks of the past, but they still play well against the sox. The Ellsbury stealing of home pretty much sums up why they are the best team to date.

2. Blue Jays: They are off to an amazing start. The only downside is that they seem to do this every year. They start out strong, then seemingly fad out into obscurity. Roy Halladay has been leading this team, and will not have much margin for error if the offense slows down.

3. Dodgers: Still winning, depsite Manny having the loest average among the starters. They are still trying to get their batting order straightened out also.

4. Phillies: The defending champs are still battling for another ring. The only thing that will slow them down or deter them would be bad news about Cole Hamil. If his injury is serious, then we will see the Phillies dropping off the top five.

5. Cardinals: The cards have been great during the regular season for the past few seasons. They have a deep offense that is producing. They also have a good closer in Ryan Franklin. If they keep up this pace, they will see the post season yet again.

Steven Orsini

2009-04-28T14:27:00.010-04:00

Brett M. Rhyne

Jacoby Ellsbury's steal of home inspires a nice historical piece by Mel Antonen in USA Today. A couple of thoughts on the matter:

• One photo illustrating the story has the caption, "Giant mistake: Emmanuel Burriss is tagged out by the Diamondbacks' Miguel Montero on April 18, ending the inning and leaving Giants cleanup man Bengie Molina at the plate." My thought: If Bengie Molina is the Giants' cleanup hitter, they've got bigger problems than Burriss trying to steal home. (Then again, this is the anemic NL West.)

• I'm reminded of something the dearly departed Coco Crisp said in 2007, when Youk and Pedroia were batting 1-2 in the order: "Jacoby Ellsbury and I are like Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia — about the same speed. Just with really fast people."

So Sweep

2009-04-27T20:31:00.003-04:00

This was one of the best series I have seen, every game was exciting. The Red Sox are on fire. This weekend they swept the Yankees 3-0, swept a 9-0 homestand, and are 10 for 10 in their last 10 games. They scored 25 runs against the Yankees and 80 runs in the last 10 games. However, they are still one game down to Toronto.
This weekend the Sox had so many amazing plays I thought they were going to sweep SportsCenters top 10. Jason Bay hit a 2-run shot to center field in Friday’s game to send the Sox into extra innings. Then Kevin Youkilis slammed a homer for a walk-off in the 11th inning. The sox won the first game 5-4.
Day 2 the sox weren’t looking as good. Josh Beckett was struggling giving up 6 runs in the first four innings while A.J. Burnett’s pitching was shutting down the Sox. However, that all changed in the bottom of the fourth when the Sox put up 5 runs. The next innings were back and forth (Sox went up 8-6, Yanks tie it up, Sox get another run 9-8, Yanks get 2 more, Sox get 3 more 12-10, Yanks get one more, then Sox finish them off with 4 more resulting in a 16-11 win.)Day 3 the game went by faster than the others. Each team got seven hits. Instead of home runs the Sox earned their runs a little different. For a game that wasn’t that excited a rare thing happened. Jacobi Ellsbury with Andy Pettitte’s back to him was able to steal home Sunday night. The Sox went on to win the game 4-1 sweeping the Yankees.

-Robin Lash

If Nick can do it, I can too! - Micaela Hersee

2009-04-27T17:22:00.003-04:00

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend a 5K in the town next to mine. The 5K in Bellingham took place Sunday morning at ten in the morning. On a normal weekend in April the weather would be in the mid 60's with a chance of rain. Not this weekend. As we all know this weekend was a taste of summer. It had already reached 80 by the time the race started.

Now I am not a runner, but the people running this race really motivated me. There were children, teens, young adults and older adults. I couldn't help but thinking if they can do this I can do it too! As I continued to watch the crowd run past at the start I couldn't help but notice a older couple at the end sporting a neon green shirt that said " If Nick can do it , we can too!" I had no idea who Nick was but I was impressed that this couple was walking holding hands in support of whoever Nick was.

Twenty minutes later runners are beginning to trickle across the finish line. Both young and old seemed unaffected by the heat as the crossed the finish line in under twenty minutes. Participants were given an hour to complete the race and as it inched closer and closer to that time alloted I could not help but wonder where the people in the neon green shirts had disappeared to.

Moments later the you can see a handful of people wearing green shirts coming down the final stretch. Leading the way was a young boy, running as fast he can towards the finish line. As it turns out this young boy was Nick and he could not have been more than 8-years-old. As Nick crossed the finish line pumping his fist in the air it became apparent that Nick suffered from a disability. The exact disability but it seemed as though he had Downs Syndrome. This amazing little boy had completed a 5K road race in under an hour with his family by his side supporting him. The look on both his face and his Dad's said it all. It showed strength, courage, happiness and pride. The mood and feel of the whole crowd was indescribable as Nick and his family completed the race. You can not help but feel proud of this little boy and feel his happiness. He surely brought a smile to my face!

Next year I hope to run the 5K road race. I am not a runner but if Nick can do it, I can do it too.

10 Things to do in a Red Sox Rain Delay - Joanne C.

2009-04-25T10:45:00.002-04:00

I received Red Sox tickets for Wednesday night’s Minnesota Twins game as a gift. Keeping in mind the two days of howling rain in Boston, I decided to share my list of 10 things to do in a rain delay at Fenway Park…

10. On the T: Wonder why they play games in April in New England – it’s always a crap shoot on weather, it’s cold and rainy… I suppose that if you end in October, you have to start in April, but it always makes me wonder why I have to break out the winter coat and fleece lined jeans to enjoy a ball game in person.

9. On the Street: Look at all the different ponchos – I swear, none of the ponchos I saw Wednesday night were the same. I was particularly fascinated by an ankle length one I saw on a woman on Yawkee Way.

8. In Kenmore Square: Double check the news provided by local teens – Two kids walked through Kenmore Square yelling the game has been called for rain – might as well go home; called home instead to hear that the game was going off as scheduled.

7. At Game On: Count the people who are leaving vs the people who are getting in – Takes about 15 minutes on a lousy game day (combine that with people who stayed from the first game of the double header). They let in 20 people (I know, fire code…), let in 10 and then close the line. We count as 25-30 people leave, and two sneak in and wait another five minutes before being let inside.

6. At the Bar: Order two beers each – This one is key, because it’s so crowded you may never get near the bar again. Two beers (at $5.50 each) will hold you long enough to see if the game is going off on schedule or if it is delayed or cancelled.

5. Watch the Bruins playoff game – What better way to forget about the pounding rainstorm than to be at Game On and watching the Bruins beating (literally at times) the Montreal Canadians.

4. Make friends with other patrons – Met a girl and her friend, a Twins fan who flew in from Minnesota just to go to the game. Tried not to hold the “Twins fan” thing against them, as they were otherwise nice people.

3. Discuss who will be taking your tickets for the next afternoon’s game while you’re at work – Our friends were on school vacation week with their kids, and the one with the Pats season tickets won out.

2. Game Begins, order one more beer – Gotta wait out that first inning or so after a rain delay; they’ll get you into the park and then pull another two-hour rain delay once the game has begun – in order to combat this and avoid spending $7 per beer, watch the first inning from where you are.

1. At the Game: Keep an eye on the clock – the MBTA does not care about rain delays or extra innings – the last train runs at 11:45, no matter what; giving you with the option of leaving early or jockeying with 20,000 other fans for a crushing ride out of Boston. We made it to the bottom of the 7th and got home in time to see the final score, wondering why they play games in April in New England.

Red Sox 5, Yankees 4 — 4/24/09

2009-04-25T00:14:00.007-04:00

Brett M. Rhyne

Tonight's game had all the makings of an anti-climax, with neither team being able to do much against the opposing starter. When the Sox knocked out Joba Chamberlain in the sixth, I thought for sure they were going to pull ahead. But Sox starter Jon Lester was gone after shortly thereafter, and instead it was the Yanks who scratched out a couple of runs to take the lead. With one out in the ninth and Mariano Rivera on the mound, Kevin Youkilis drilled a single up the middle (nearly taking Rivera out in the process). J.D. Drew made the second out, leaving it up to Jason Bay. Bay promptly dinged one off the top of the Monster in centerfield, sending the game into extra innings and Rivera to the showers — his 14th career blown save against the Olde Towne Team, by far the most against any opponent. A couple of innings later, Youk put the Yanks out of their misery with a walkoff blast onto Lansdowne Street.

The good: Jason Bay, who sparkled at the plate and in left field; Youk, whose torrid bat and steady glove are carrying this team; and Jon Lester, who has returned to form as the Sox' most consistent starter.

The bad: The bullpen, no members of which looked sharp tonight; Jacoby Ellsbury, who may have manufactured a run in the first but then disappeared; and manager Terry Francona's decision to pinch run for Mike Lowell with two out in the ninth, after he'd gotten on following Bay's dinger — come on, Tito, we all knew the game was going into extra innings, and wouldn't you rather have Lowell's glove and bat in there?

The ugly: Hideki Okajima was the first and the worst of the bad relievers, throwing batting practice, coughing up the lead and getting himself on the hook for the loss until Bay's heroics; and David Ortiz took some pretty ugly swings, too.

A Statement Made in Game 3

2009-04-24T14:03:00.003-04:00

Kristin Kennedy

After two close games at home against the Chicago Bulls, the Celtics showed the young Bulls what championship basketball is all about in game 3 in Chicago. The Celtics jumped out to early lead Thursday night and never looked back as they dominated the Bulls for an entire 48 minutes in a 107-86 blowout. Captain, Paul Pierce scored 13 points in the first half, shooting 6 for 7 from the floor, hitting an array of shots that gave Boston the momentum they needed to finish out strong. The Celtics, who are known for their defense, struggled in games 1 and 2, allowing the Bulls to score over 100 points in both games. In game 3 however,the Bulls had already racked up 14 turnovers at halftime, thanks much in part to the active hands of Rondo and big man Glen Davis. Rondo had two steals and Davis four in the first half. Chicago managed to shoot only 32.4% in the first half and tallied only five assists as a team, well off of their pace of 20.0 APG this series. Pierce's quick start helped him finish as the team's leading scorer with 24 points and was limited to only 27 minutes of play. Allen also pitched in 20 and Stephon Marbury scored 13 points to go along with five assists and three rebounds off the bench. After such a convincing performance, the Celtics will need to savor the victory last night, but quickly put it behind them today and focus on the road ahead. Boston has two days to prepare for a Game 4 that could potentially give them a commanding lead in the series. That game will take place at 1 p.m. EST Sunday afternoon in the United Center and will be broadcast on ABC.

There's only one Ricky Hatton

2009-04-23T22:22:00.005-04:00

by Dylan Payne

"There's only one Ricky Hatton,
One Ricky Hatton,
Walking along,
Singing this song,
Walking in a Hatton wonderland."

That is the cheer that will be sung by the Brits on May 2nd when their beloved Ricky Hatton steps into the ring at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to take on the world's number one ranked boxer, Manny Pacquiao. The fight will take place in the junior welterweight division(140 pounds) where Hatton is recognized as the champ. Hatton comes into this fig+ht sporting a 45-1 record, his only loss coming to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007. Pacquiao comes in with a 48-3 record and is coming off the biggest win of his career, an 8 round destruction of Oscar De La Hoya, a fight that sent De La Hoya into retirement. This fight will feature the strength and power of Hatton versus the lightning quick speed of Manny Pacquiao.

After losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr., Ricky Hatton called on the assitance of his father, Floyd Sr. to fine tune his game. The switch paid off and in Hatton's first fight with Sr., he looked like a much more technical fighter instead of just a brawler. Floyd Sr. worked on Hatton's defense, something he will desperately need in order to stop the quick punches of Pacquiao. Pacquiao has been training with world renowned trainer, and Massachusetts native, Freddie Roach in Los Angeles. Although neither fighter has trashed talked one another out of respect, the same can't be said for the trainers. Never known to be a quiet one, Floyd Mayweather Sr. refers to Pacquiao's trainer as Freddie "the joke coach" Roach, trying to hype this fight to a huge pay day. This should be, and in my opinion, will be the fight of the year and should bring fireworks. In order for Hatton to win he will need to stop himself from reverting to his old brawler form, and use the technical skills Mayweather has taught him along with his brute strength and power. The Pac Man has brought down many men with his speed but I think Hatton will be able to overcome it with his power and the people of Manchester will rejoice in the streets as their beloved son will come home as the top ranked boxer in the world.

"I gave birth quicker than this transaction!" - Amanda Musial

2009-04-23T18:04:00.003-04:00

This quote actually comes from a woman who works at fenway! I'll give a little background to the story:

I attended the Boston Red Sox game on Saturday, April 18th against the Baltimore Orioles and arrived at the stadium with a huge smile on my face. I haven't been able to even get tickets for any games (or afford them) for the past 5 or 6 years. I was sooo excited that I finally was able to get them! ..OK back to the story..

So my friend and I decided to get beer (yes I am of age! and no, not by that much!) before we found our seats. We went to the beer stand and waited in line for at least ten minutes. Which is fine because it was totally expected, as was our bill for the beverages! I finally got to the front of line and asked (politely) 3 beers, 2 for me, 1 for my friend. My friend then asks for another beer and the woman worker acknowledged...or so we thought!

She then asked us to pick up our beer off of the counter and we replied that we were still waiting for the one we asked for. She then proceeded to say the quote stated above. My friend and I were shocked! After this comment I refused to tip her for the already rediculously priced beer, and she continued to curse...oops!

I mean, I don't expect everyone to be super excited about their job but you are at the happiest place in Boston! It took me over 5 years to get to see a game and this woman goes everynight and has an attitude like this!

Ohh, only in Boston!!!

As a sidenote; the game, seats and the beer were all amazing! The Red Sox won 6-4, thanks to a homerun by Youkilis and great pitching!

Vikings split with walkoff win but hopes of Playoffs on Thin Ice By: Jason Gasbarro

2009-04-22T13:13:00.006-04:00

The Salem State baseball team was in a deep hole Monday afternoon as their playoff hopes were on the line trailing by a run in the bottom half of the 7th inning against rival Westfield State. After leading off the inning getting hit in the helmet on a first pitch curveball, Nick Dunn advanced to second base on a bunt by lead off hitter Christopher Cocci. The Vikings eventually tied the game on a base hit from senior centerfielder John McCue which scored Cocci from second base. After a Ken Luongo walk, the game came down to the bat of injury plagued Joe Galindo, who in his games since coming off a hamstring pull has been the vikings best all around hitter. Galindo ripped a single to left field scoring the winning run and keeping the Vikings post season bid alive. Although the Vikings dropped the nightcap by poor pitching and unfocused play, they still have an outside chance to enter the MASCAC playoffs. Salem State still has one conference double header against MCLA left and would have to sweep the series, and with a little help from conference foes could sneak their way into playoff contention. The Games are scheduled for Saturday starting at 1:00 P.M. The Vikings will need to get top performences by expected starters captian Al Minor and junior Mike Voyer.

Bruins Look To Sweep-Jason Rexinis

2009-04-22T10:04:00.002-04:00

The Boston Bruins had a very light up beat practice yesterday at the Belle Centre in Montreal as they look to sweep their rivals tonight in game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals. The B's and the Habs have met each other more times in the playoffs than any other two teams in the history of the NHL. The past four times the B's have been to the playoffs they were outdone by Montreal all four times. It will not happen this year. Claude Julien the coach of the Bruins and former Montreal Canadiens coach will not let his team fold like they are used to doing first round.

The Bruins just simply match up better in every aspect of the game compared to Montreal. Tim Thomas Vezina trophy candidate has played spectacular in net, making huge momentum changing saves when needed. The Bruins offense picked up where they left off in the regular season scoring timely goals when needed. Sparked by the first line of Marc Savard 2-3-5 totals, Phil Kessel 3-2-5 totals. These two have been a the leaders all year in the scoring department and Montreals defense has no answers for them. The Bruins have more depth this year and can roll all four lines at any time in the game. Montreal only has 5 goals in 3 games against the B's. The B's did a great job like they have done all year staying disciplined in thr Belle Centre where the fans seem to be the seventh player. But the crowd could not get to the B's and look for the Bruins to tune out the crowd tonight, play a solid deffense game and sweep the Habs in their own barn.

Labels, labels, labels

2009-04-21T23:04:00.005-04:00

Brett M. Rhyne

Please be sure to label your posts, RNS bloggers. Otherwise, how will people find us?

This photo was taken the night the Sox clinched the Wild Card last year, by the way.

Violence in Sports

2009-04-21T19:45:00.006-04:00

Micaela Hersee

Most of us blogging for RhyNewSports have been taking sports in general, which is what I planned on doing until an assignment for my sports management course seemed interesting and important. For my class I was asked to discuss Violence in Sports. Before I began my researcher I was oblivious to just how much violence actually occurs.

Violence in Sports can occur in any sport and among any party involved (Fan to fan, player to player, management to player, fan to player, player to referee). It can also occur at any level whether it be Professional, Intramural or Youth.

Many reasons can be attributed to the violence such as:
-Poor education in the areas of discipline, character and team playing.
- Fan provocation and frustration.
- Lack of security.
-Media coverage on violent acts.
- Video Games teaching players violence and hostility will lead to a win.
-Money given to pro sport players.

Solutions to the problems:
- Increase eduction in the areas of disciple and team playing.
- Disciplinary actions against those players acting violently.
- Disciplinary actions against rowdy fans.
- Actions taken against Management and Referee who encourage or participate in poor sportsmanship.
- Banning the media from games if caught showing violence. Asking the media to show the positive points of the game.
- Increasing education for security personal and rewarding them for positive actions.
- Monitoring alcohol consumption.
- Having police involvement whenever necessary.
- Making an example of those behaving badly.

It is important to remember that Violence in Sports can happen at any level and between any party involved. It is an issue that is getting a lot of attention right now and it seems as though rules and regulations may be formed in the near future.

Until next time....

Celtics Plauged by Injuries

2009-04-21T16:41:00.007-04:00

Celtics Powe out for playoffs

Dave Pazzaglia

During last night’s thrilling 118-115 win over Chicago the Celtics have run into more injury problems at the worst time of the year. With Garnett already out with looks to be the reminder of the season the Celtics have lost key backup forward Leon Powe for the reminder of the year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in the left knee. Powe was injured early in the second quarter of the game which he did not return although the Celtics were able to salvage a victory with Ray Allen’s late heroics draining a three to even the first round series at one a piece. Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo had also left the game with a sprained ankle which he did return to play on. Celtics coach Doc Rivers reports, “Rajon will sit out from practice Tuesday and Wednesday but is expected to play on Thursday.

With a limited bench it’s going to be a tough rode with Glen Davis moving to Garnett’s spot. Glen Davis is an undersized center who gets into follow trouble that Leon Powe would fill in for help. Now with Powe out, Mikki Moore will be looked upon. More has had some success offensively but has a tough time defensively especially against the pic and roll.

Brian Scalabrine is supposed to practice Wednesday with hopes of playing on Thursday, another injured Celtic. But the Celtics won't be sure of his status until he goes through tomorrow's session. Rajon Rondo will have to really show some character playing with the injured ankle because without him the Celtics would be in more trouble then what they have right now. The defending champ’s backs are definitely against the wall and it’s going to take a total team effort to win this series and possibly more with Rivers stating, “I told our guys we need all hands on deck right now. That's what we're going to have." Game three is Thursday night between the Bulls and the Celtics in Chicago at 8 pm.

Patriots Draft

2009-04-21T13:17:00.003-04:00

The NFL draft is less than a week away, and the New England Patriots are poised and ready with 11 draft choices. With the upcoming draft, the patriots have enough picks to plug in their biggest needs. Their biggest needs are on defense, as we all saw last eyar, faultered many times during the season. I believe the draft picks will focus around defense, and picking up offensive players after the defense is assessed. Their biggest postion needs are

1. LB
Jerod Mayo was a rookie standout last year. The patriots will be looking for another rookie to play inside with Mayo. Larry English, Ray Meguala, and Laurenitas are great draft picks for the first round.

2. OLB
With the departure of Vrabel, OLB is another need for the Patriots. A trade for Julius Peppers or the Addition of Taylor seem unlikely at this point, so the Patriots will be looking for a replacment.

3. CB
Cornerback was a huge issue last year. Ellis Hobbs is an average CB, but ended up being a first string starter due to injuries and the departure of key palyers (Samuel in particualr). Deltha O'neil showed exactly why the bengals cut him by getting burned 9 out of 10 plays. The Patriots gave up 3rd most TD passes last season.

4. Safety
With Rodney Harrisons future at stake, some depth at saftey would be nice. Brandon Merriweather finally showed up last yera and played to his potential, but some depth is still needed. Their are some good 2nd round safeties out there that we could see on the board for the patriots to pick up.

The patritos will be trading some picks for next years draft, and are in a grea position this year to get the defense back to being young.

Steven Orsini

Boston Victorious -By Gianna Addario

2009-04-21T09:47:00.003-04:00

It was a winning day for the Boston sports teams yesterday. The Red Sox led the way with a 12-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox swept the Orioles in the 4 game serious. Finally, the season is looking hopeful for the Sox. They are now tied for second place with the Yankees, (7-6). I guess all of the money the Yankees spent during the off season isn't paying off during the regular season.

The Boston Bruins are on a win streak. The Bruins beat the Habs 4-2 last night in Montreal. Despite losing Lucic to suspension, and Matt Hunwick to a spleen injury, the Bruins are still trucking along and making things happen. They have received goals from all four of the lines. Which is pretty impressive, considering some teams don't even have 3 solid lines. Patrice Bergeron got his first five-minute fighting major of his career. He threw a hard couple of lefts during game 2 of the series. The Bruins are finally making a name for themselves again. It would be truly remarkable if they could sweep the Canadiens.

And for the icing on the cake, the Celtics. After having lost the first game of the series, they somewhat redeemed themselves last night, sort of. Rajon Rondo, who carried the team for most of the half, ended the game with a triple-double. And yes, Ray Allen was back last night. Of course he did play in the first game, his presence really wasn't seen that much after going 1 for 12. But last night Ray hit the game winning shot. The final was 118-115, and KG made it through the entire game on the bench. Leon Powe went down in the first quarter, and didn't return. He had an MRI done after the game, but no word yet on the condition of his knee. Powe, recently returned to the lineup. It seems like the Celtics are dropping like flies.

Yet after all the injuries, rough starts, and long seasons (bruins/celtics), the Boston fans have something to cheer about. Their teams are winning!

B's up 3-0

2009-04-21T09:22:00.002-04:00

Chris Santarpio

B'S UP 3-0 IN CANADAIAN SERIES

After last nights games, the Boston Bruins have taken a 3 game lead in their Stanley Cup playoff series with the Montreal Canadians. Although Montreal's Christopher Higgins scored the first goal, the B's kept up the momentum from the previous games and went on to win the game.
The first period was taken over by Montreal. They outplayed the Bruins the entire period, they looked faster and got more shots and scoring chances. From the look of the first 19 minutes of the first period it did not look like the Bruins were going to have a good game. In the last 45 seconds of the first period, the Bruins saw some light when Bruin Phil Kessel re-directed a one time slap shot for a goal to end the period. This gave the Bruins a new start in the second, where they played much better. The pep talk in the locker room must have been a good one because it look like the team from previous game when they came out in the second. The Bruins scored first to gain the quick one goal lead. The Canadians then proceeded to tie the game up, but the Bruins stayed tough and scored two more goals to win 4-2.
Former Canadian Michael Ryder had a big game against his former team. Ryder scored a big goal late in the second period to bring the Bruins up by one. This would end up being the winning goal, the Bruins would be in the lead for the remaining time in the game.
The third period the Canadians came out trying everything they could, but the Bruins defense played solid like they have all year and held them. In the last minute of the game, Chuck Kobasew beat a Canadian defensemen to the puck and hit the empty net for the final cap to the game.
The Bruins will play the Canadians again in Montreal for game four on Wednesday night, if they win they will proceed to the next round, if they lose they will come back for a fifth game in Boston. Let's hope they win and make it a quick series.

The Shot Heard Round The World by Sherene Abu-Hijleh

2009-04-20T20:03:00.003-04:00

The playoffs are here! The playoffs are here!

The moment every NBA fan has been waiting for...the NBA Playoffs. They have finally arrived. Let's talk about our home team, shall we.

The Boston Celtics hosted the Chicago Bulls Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the TD Banknorth Garden for Game 1 of their 5 game series. It's unfortunate to say that the C's lost to the Bulls in overtime 103-105. The question is, should there have been an overtime?!

It all came down to the last play...Paul Pierce fouled and sent to the line to shoot 2. The C's were down by one when he approached the line. With 2.6 seconds left and the ball in the captains hands, you could almost hear every fans heart beat normally and a sigh of relief. Everyone was up on their feet as they watched what they thought was going to be the last play of regulation; the game winning play.

Pierce hit the first free throw. Game is tied. The ref gets the ball, hands it over to Paul. Pierce does his normal ritual of 2 dribbles and a spinning of the ball then tosses it up for a shot. IN AND OUT!!! That shot heard round the world could have ended the game right there! But it didn't.

Pierce is an 83% free throw shooter. I guess that 17% got the best of him this game.

The C's and the Bulls went into overtime. For the overtime regulation, the Celtics only allowed the Bulls to score 8 points (Celtics were allowed only 6)...but that's all they needed to take Game 1 of the first round playoff series. The Celtics lost 103-105.

It's payback time tonight. The Celtics are hosting the Bulls again tonight at the Garden. Let's hope it doesn't come down to one of those nailbiting shots again. I don't think I can handle that one more time!

Greg Paulus: From Duke Point Guard to Michigan QB?

2009-04-16T23:26:00.002-04:00

Dylan Payne

Now that Greg Paulus' collegiate basketball career has come to a disappointing end, he will now try to change focus and use his final year of eligibilty to play quarterback for another school. Michigan is said to have offered him a scholarship, and other schools have been rumored to be interested including Syracuse, the same city he played high school football in. Paulus was a great high school quarterback winning the Gatorade player of the year his senior year and even turned down the offer to play qb at Notre Dame so that he could run the point at Duke. I always saw Paulus as a mediocre, at best, point guard who was a cry baby just like his the rest of the Dukies. After starting his first three years at Duke, Paulus was benched his senior year, as he could never lead the team deep into the NCAA tourney once JJ Reddick left.

After not playing a single down since 2005, I don't think Paulus will be productive at all in his one year of football eligibility. The lowly Duke football team wouldn't even give him a shot to compete for the starting job, a team that hasn't had a winning record since 1994. Michigan and Syracuse seem desperate by turning to him as they are both coming off 3 win seasons. Wherever Paulus ends up I'll be rooting against him and I'm sure he'll be a failure just like every other Duke basketball alum.

Bruins and Canadien Fued: To Be Continued...

2009-04-15T20:37:00.005-04:00

With the NHL playoff beginning Thursday I thought it would be fitting to enlighten you all with a little history. No worries - this isn't the type of history that you need to remember any dates for...

The Bruins and Canadiens fued is one of the oldest rivalries in NHL history. The two teams began as what they called the "original six". The two teams have played in more regular season games than any two NHL teams. The two teams also have the highest amount of playoff game appearances against each other in the history of the NHL; which dates back to 1917.

One of the most famous NHL photos is the one of Maurice Richard and Bruins goaltender "Sugar" Jim Henry shaking hands after the conclusion of the 1952 series where the Canadiens defeated the Bruins in the series. :-(

Richard has a cut above his eyebrow while Henry has a black eye.

In 1971, the Bruins were the number one team in NHL, the Canadiens were number eight. The two faced off (no pun intended!) and the Canadiens ended up beating the Bruins during the first round of the playoffs, knocking the team out for the year. This is really when the fued heated up.

The rivalry continued throughout the 1980s, mainly due to a division-oriented playoff format that seemed to pair the teams every year.

In 1990, the Bruins finished off the Canadiens in the Boston Garden and would also win the 1991 and 1992 playoff match-ups against the Canadiens, the last one being a 4–0 sweep.

Almost 20 years later the fued continues. Thursday April 16th will be the first game of this much anticipated series...all of Boston is waiting to see what happens!!

Close but no cigar

2009-04-15T20:34:00.004-04:00

Robin Lash

Today I thought (didn't say out loud) that I was going to see a no-hitter. I was especially excited because I was on a plane during Clay Buchholz and in a cabin with no Internet or TV within miles during Jon Lester’s. I thought I would finally get to see a no-hitter. Tim Wakefield, 42-years-old, took the mound with a goal of pitching as many innings as possible. The night before the sox used their bullpen for 10 2/3 innings. The bullpen needed a rest and that’s what Wakefield did.
In the second inning Mike Lowell hit a 2-run homer putting the sox up 2-0. It was around the 5th inning that I realized what was going on. I knew it was early to start thinking about a no-hitter but after 5 innings I was getting impressive.
There were impressive defensive plays to keep the no-hitter alive. In the third inning Jacoby Ellsbury had a nice catch that could have resulting in an extra-base hit. Then in the seventh a new face Nick Green made an unbelievable catch holding the no-hitter alive.
The eighth inning was a big one for the sox. J.D. Drew hit a 3-run homer putting the red sox up 5-0. The sox continued that inning with Green hitting in another run and Ellsbury hitting in two more putting the sox up 8-0. The bottom of the eighth brought bitter disappointment. Kurt Suzuki hit a single ending the pursuit for a no-hitter. The Athletics got a run that inning and they got another one in the bottom of the ninth. Wakefield ended up giving up 4 hits and 2 runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, within 111 pitches. All in all the sox played a great game. Wakefield was able to pitch all nine innings giving the bullpen much needed rest.

2-6

2009-04-15T13:39:00.003-04:00

The red sox are now 2-6. I know, there are 161 game sin a season, but we should start to worry. This is the worst start since 1996, for the Boston Red Sox. This team has plans to make a run at the World Series, but has serious problems in its present state. These are the problems that the Red sox need to overcome if they plan to make it anywhere.

Matsuzaka: 5 runs in the first inning of the game vs. Oakland. This guyw as an 18 game winner last season, and is looking like a rookie this season. In 6 innings this season, he has given up 9 runs. This could because of fatigue from the WBC, but who knows. The large price tag for this player surely doesnt seem to be paying off just yet, and the pitching doesnt look to have as much depth as we all thought.

Jon Lester: Another should be ace, is struggling in out of the gates. He has posted a 9 ERA in his first 2 starts. He will needs start playing like a #2 pitcher.

Hitting: David Ortiz is feeling the loss of Ramirez for the second straight season. His struggles are directly related to Manny leaving. Ortiz will never be the same without Manny. Many peopel say its becuase of the wrist inury, and I think this year will prove Ortiz is nothing without Manny. He is alreayd at a .172 average with no home runs in 29 at bats. He is not the only one struggling. Jacoby Elsbury is at a .194, and really has no excuse for playing so poorly. He is the leadoff hitter, and should be doing a much better job at it. Mike Lowell, who was resigned despite his age and declining skills, is hitting at a .188 and has grounded into 4 double plays. Jason Varitek tries to make a comeback form his worst offensive season ever and does by hitting .200.

There are many games ot be played, but with the rotation the way it is and the hitting the way it is currently do not expect a playoff run this year. We will see if team managment has the skills to get the team back on track.

Steven Orsini

Labels

2009-04-14T12:24:00.005-04:00

Dear RNS sports staffers,

When blogging, please be sure to label all your entries — your new ones and the ones you have already posted. This is how (a) readers find our blog and (b) ads are placed on the blog. When labeling, please do not use any punctuation. The "Labels for this post" box appears at the lower right of the create window. Thanks.

Carry on.

Sox vs Oakland A's - Joanne Cochrane

2009-04-13T23:25:00.002-04:00

I'm going to give the "live blogging" a shot for the remainder 5th inning of tonight's Red Sox game. I am coming in with two outs at the top of the fifth - Jason Varitek is up and the count is 1-2. He has fouled of a couple of pitches and has just pop flied one to Sweeney. The score is 5-1 and Oakland is up next. The announcers have made note that Varitek celebrated his birthday last weekend by hitting a couple of home runs (good news for my HR derby, as I am probably the only one with him as a write in).

We are now looking at the field and the Sox are in position. John Lester had a 5 run 2nd inning pitching to the A's. Jason Giambi is at bat - fresh from a rowdy crowd booing in the last inning. He hits a breaking ball down the middle to Green and it is fielded cleanly to Youkalis. Matt Holliday (also on my HR derby, which I am not rooting for at this time) is up and the count is 1-1 with one out. Lester's pitch is a ball followed by one over the plate which is hit directly to JD Drew. Up next is 3rd baseman Nomar Garcipara. Jerry and Don have bet $5 that Nomar will swing at the first pitch. He doesn't and the money is exchanged on camera. Next pitch is right down the middle and Nomar hits a home run, making it 6-1. Lester has thrown two balls and two strikes to Cust, who is one for two with a single home run earlier in the game. Another ball is thrown outside, making a full count - Pop fly to center field and Rocco Baldelli makes the catch and at the end of the fifth it's 6-1.

Paul Pierce: A True Captain by Sherene Abu-Hijleh

2009-04-12T14:01:00.004-04:00

Captain [kap tuh n]: -noun

A person who is at the head of or in authority over other; leader.

Sports. The field leader of a team

Paul Pierce

Every sports fan knows who Paul Pierce is. Number 34 for the Boston Celtics, Forward, 10 years in the NBA (all 10 spent in Boston), leading scorer for the C's with 20.4 points per game, 3rd in rebounds per game (5.8), 2nd in assists (3.6), and the Celtics only Captain.

Paul Pierce has been the Celtics captain for 5 years. From 1998-2003, Pierce was the co-captain, along with Antoine Walker. I'm sure every Celtics fan remembers the duo together on and off the court. They were the 1-2 punch for the Celtics, leading the C's to conference finals. But once Walker was traded to the Dallas Mavericks during the 2003-2004 NBA season, it was up to Pierce to fill the big shoes Walker left behind.

Pierce did just that. For the next 5 years, Pierce has stood tall and stayed strong, leading his fellow teammates to victories.

During the 2003-2004 season, Paul Pierce and the Celtics made the third consecutive playoff appearance, bowing out to the Indiana Pacers in the first round. During this season, Pierce played the most minutes (3,099), made the most field goals, (602), had the most free throws made, (517), had the most assists, (410), had the most points, (1,836), and had the most points per game (23). Pierce was hot!

The 2004-2005 season was almost a mimic of the previous season. The Celtics met with the Pacers once again for the first round of the playoffs. This round was a lot more exciting than last years, however. Game 1 was won in Boston by the C's. Game 2 was taken by the Pacers. Game 3 and 4 was split between both teams. It came down to a 3-game series with two games at Boston. The Pacers stole the nail-biting game 5 from the C's, winning it 90-85. The Celtics came back, however, in game 6 with a victory, tying the series 3-3. It was all up to Game 7. Unfortunately that game went to the Pacers. During this season, Pierce played the most games, (82), played 2,960 minutes worth of hard basketball, made 556 field goals, 549 free throws, tallied 1, 769 points, and averaged 21.6 points per game.

For the 2005-2006 season, Pierce pretty much swept the statistical board, except for most games played, (that went to LaFrentz with 82). Pierce played 3, 084 minutes, made 689 FG, 627 FT, 375 assists, 530 rebounds, 2,116 points for the season, and 26.3 PPG.

In the 2006-2007 season, Pierce made 320 Free Throws, scored 1,173 points and averaged 25 points per game. He continued to shine through the next season and into today.

Pierce had great stats for the 2007-2008 season. He played 80 games, 2,374 minutes, made 504 FG, 409 FT, came out of the season with 1,570 points, and averaged 19.6 PPG. And we can't forget the big victory Pierce led his team to...The NBA Title! Pierce helped the C's bring 17 home.

It's obvious to see that Pierce hasn't let his team down when they needed him most. If they needed points, Pierce got those points. If they needed rebounds, he crashed the boards. If they needed a good pass, Pierce found the open man. But, being a good player doesn't always come down the statistics. It comes down to leading.

Pierce's statistics are only a part of what makes him a great leader. Pierce was chosen to be captain because he is the most skilled player on the team and is determined to be the best leader. Of all the players, you will never see Pierce give up. That's his job as a captain. And, my personal opinion, he does a damn good job!

UFC 97 Preview

2009-04-09T13:46:00.004-04:00

Dylan Payne

The UFC returns to Montreal on Saturday April 18th for UFC 97. It is the second time the UFC has held an event in Canada, the first coming last April. However the event was in jeopardy of happening last month due to the fact that the Quebec Athletic Commission did not want to sanction the rules implemented by the UFC. They didn't want to allow knees, elbows, or strikes to a downed opponent. This led UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta to fly to Quebec and meet with the commission, ultimatly coming to a compromise of no foot stomps, thus saving the event.

The UFC 97 card is a pretty solid card featuring a main event of Anderson "The Spider" Silva, the consensus number one ranked middleweight in the world, versus up and comer Thales Leites. Anderson Silva has never lost in the UFC, holding an 8-0 record. With a win on the 18th he will break Royce Gracie's record of 8 consecutive wins inside the octagon. Silva's striking skills are hands down the best in his division and he also hold a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. The only way Leites will be able to beat Silva is if he catches him on an off day and can take the champ down and submit him. Of Leites' 14 wins, 9 have come via submission. I don't see that happening, though, and expect Silva to be champion until the day he retires.

Also fighting that night is on of the most popular fighters in the world, Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell. He will be taking on former number 1 ranked fighter in the world Maurico "Shogun" Rua. Once the ruler of the 205 pound weight class, Liddell has fallen on tough times as of late, losing 3 of his last 4 fights including a highlight reel knockout from Rashad Evans, a knockout in which I'm not even sure Liddell has woken up off the mat from yet. He hasn't fought since and will try to prove to the world that he's not in the twighlight of his career. Since coming over from Japan, Shogun has not been impressive at all, going 1-1 with his one win one of the worst fights I've ever seen. I always thought Shogun was overated and I expect Liddell to knock him with a right hook.

The rest of the card features two former WEC champions (the UFC's affiliated organization, sort of a minor league for up and coming fighters) in Steve Cantwell and Brian Stann, a dangerous young striker in Luiz Cane, top heavyweight prospect France's Cheick Kongo and former IFL and Ultimate Fighter contestant Krzystof Soszynski. All three undercard fights should be stand up wars and I expect knockouts from all three fights. I'm picking Kongo over Antoni Hardonk, Cane over Cantwell, and Stann over Krzystof.

The names on this card aren't the biggest out there, but overall I expect the fights to make this event one of the best events of the year.

Salem State College Baseball

2009-04-08T14:11:00.003-04:00

Micaela Hersee

With a busy class schedule, internship and job keeping up with sports has become nearly impossible. Lucky for me, I have a roommate who dates a member of the SSC baseball team, lets call him John Smith.

Over the course of this semester Smith has gotten used to my questions and messages as I attempt to throw together something on the baseball team and the progress. Since a friendship has been established between myself and Smith it is reassuring that he is not bullshitting me at all when discussing the team. He keeps it honest and makes sure he covers all positive and negative factors.

When I asked him a few days ago for a recap of the current season he was more than happy to oblige.

The Salem State Vikings are currently have won 10 games and have lost 10 as well. They have had note worthy pitching from Matt Kerr and Al miner, however nothing big has occurred so far in the season. The Vikings are 1 win and 3 losses in the conference which determines whether or not they make it to the playoffs. Typically a team needs at least 8 wins and 6 losses to play. The vikings will have to play very well to make it to the conference but with a new strategy and the faith of the fans anything is possible.

Until next time...

Woods Bidding for Another Green Jacket - Preview

2009-04-08T13:51:00.001-04:00

Dave Pazzaglia

Tomorrow will mark the 1st round of the Masters tournament and the 1st major Tiger Woods will be playing in since before his knee injury. With his first three starts of the season all showing some positives; driving the ball great at Tucson, having a solid iron game at Doral, and winning Bay Hill with a great short game it's hard to argue that Tiger isn't the favorite going into his first major back since injury. With four career wins at Augusta (1997,2001,2002,2005), Woods will look to make it five although he has only won one in his last six attempts at the green jacket.

With Tiger healed, hungry and obviously beginning to peak again the rest of the field will have to bring everything they have to compete for the jacket. The only part of Tiger’s illustratious career missing is his bid for the Grand Slam, winning all four majors in one year. Tiger has won four in a row before just not at the right time. Augusta is the first of four major championships of the year and I can assure you due to his competitive nature and excitement to be back that he has his eye on doing it this year, but it all begins with this weekend.

You never know what to expect from Phil Mickelson but he could cause Tiger some trouble if he can find his stroke this weekend where he has won two Masters Championships in the last five seasons. He is one of only two players too own two PGA Tour victories this season along with Geoff Ogilvy. Other contenders besides these two should be Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, Stewart Cink, Henrik Stenson, and Tim Clark.

Woods stated, “The preparation, the feeling I have right now, it feels the same.” Tiger will tee off Thursday at 1:52 with Stewart Cink and Jeev Milkha Singh. The last Grand Slam event Tiger played in was all the way back in June where he beat out Rocco Mediate in a playoff hole. Don’t be surprised if Tiger get his 15th major title this week and starts his bid to win all four titles this year. Tune in this weekend for what should be one heck of a return.

Amanda Musial - The Week in Boston Sports : part 2

2009-04-08T12:54:00.004-04:00

(seriously, the cutest baby EVER!!)

1. The Sox win the season opener

The Sox kick off the season with a "W" under their belts, and Boston couldn't be happier. Although a day late due to the rain on Monday, opening day did not disappoint Boston fans. With a score of Boston 5 - Tampa Bay 3 care of great pitching by Beckett, a first inning solo home-run by Pedroia, and amazing batting by the entire team, the Sox are hopeful for another successful season. Mike Lowell put it best; it was "a nice, complete game". So humble!!

2. Women's tackle football exists

Who knew?!

These girls are scary! Their season opener is April 18th, against the Manchester Freedom, at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville. The Boston Militia squad is part of the Independent Women’s Football League (IWFL), a professional, full-tackle women’s football league that hosts 1,600 women in 41 teams across North America. The Militia, which formed in 2007, has 46 players. Unlike men, these women do have to hold full-time jobs, but they all agree that this league let's all of their stress and frustration out. I bet!

3. UCONN win's women's NCAA coveted championship

Although this isn't directly related to Boston news, I felt it NEEDS to be mentioned. These girls are flawless. They were chosen as the number one seed for this year, and the way they played this year proved to everyone that they should be number one. As the top-ranked Huskies piled up victory after victory, winning 38 in a row by an astounding average margin of 30.7 points per game, they beat Louisville 76-54.

"The more we won by, the margin of victories kept getting bigger," coach Auriemma said. "And the more it was expected that, well, of course they're going to win. Of course they're the best team ever. Of course, of course, of course."

Cocky, but confident -- I like it!!

4. Wes Welker - easily my favorite player on the Patriots

In my opinion, Welker makes the craziest catches look so easy. He also takes some of the hardest hits in football, while also being one of the smallest guys on the team. One of the hits he received late last season is now dubbed illegal. Now according to the NFL "hits like Clark's are now illegal, the league making verboten any type of initial contact with a receiver who is in the act of trying to catch a pass that involves a forearm or shoulder to the neck or head area (such hits involving the helmet were already prohibited)". This will hopefully prevent injuries to players such as my personal fave - Mr. Welker.

5. The Canadien - Bruin feud continues

On Thursday, March 9, the Bruins face-off with the Canadiens to continue their long running fued. Possibly my favorite Boston fued, I'm excited to see the game. Not even going to lie - mostly to see the fights that will unravel!

It's only one game, folks

2009-04-07T19:15:00.004-04:00

Brett M. Rhyne

Before you all go apeshit over the outcome of today's Sox–Rays game, I'd like to remind you that they still have 161 left to play.

The good: Josh Beckett's 2-hit, 10-K outing and his apparent command of his fastball, curve and change from the get-go; just ignore the third inning. Also, the way the lineup appears balanced, at least from two through eight.

The bad: Manager Terry Francona's decision to pull Beckett after seven; he was cruising, and his departure was what allowed Tampa Bay back into the game. Also, the top and bottom of the Sox lineup: Jacoby Ellsbury (0-4, 1 K) continues to disappoint, and Jed Lowrie (1 cheap hit, 2 K's) has yet to show why he's preferable to Julio Lugo at short (theirs were the only three Sox strikeouts, by the way).

The ugly: The performances of middle relievers Hideki Okajima (1 BB to the #9 hitter, 1 HBP, 2 ER, 54.00 ERA) and Justin Masterson (both inherited runners scored); 38-year-old Okie's 2007 heroics are now two years removed, and Masterson may just be hyper-hype.

Photo: Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Hall of Famer Jim Rice preview their remake of Driving Miss Daisy; Jim Davis, Boston Globe

The Sox Rock! and Always Will! - Joanne Cochrane

2009-04-06T22:10:00.000-04:00

Disneyworld is not the only place where dreams come true. There is another place right here in Boston where dedicated fans can relax and rejoice amongst a cast of characters. A place where fun and family reigns. Where a team comes together to spend another 180 plus days playing a game they love, with people they respect. A place where petty differences and sullen teammates do not exist. Where the starting lineup is (finally) healthy again and where there is nothing to distract them from doing their jobs and achieving their goal - another World Series trophy and ring.

The place is Fenway Park, and another season's ride begins on Monday (or Tuesday, depending on the weather). This will be the first year in a long time where the Sox will play the season opener at home - and the Fenway Faithful are ready and willing to take this journey with them.

2009 sees the Red Sox in a place they haven't been in some time, with strong pitching, healthy starters and depth in the bullpen and on the bench. Players like Big Papi, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield and Mike Lowell are all expected to take their positions in the lineup and rotation. Curt Shilling has retired (though still has a blog on WEEI) and dare I say the name Manny Ramirez - only to say good riddance and how good it has been for the team since he was traded to the LA Dodgers - it looks like the specter of that ghost has been excised from the clubhouse.

The American League East will be fun to watch this baseball season. You have the Red Sox, Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays as the "Big Three" - the ones to watch, and believe me, people will be looking. After last season, where the Yankees' health imploded and the Red Sox lost to the Rays after a best of seven pennant race; the gauntlet has been thrown in this division.

Coming into this season, the Red Sox are still the team to beat. Terry Francona is hitting his stride as the manager, having already brought home two rings in five years. The respect the team has for him, and his baseball knowledge and expertise are something that Red Sox fans have come to terms with since the 2004 season. You may not always agree with the call, but you eventually understand the reasons behind it.

Former Tampa Bay Rays player Rocco Baldelli and Quality control coach Tim Bogar (who will take over the role of first bas coach( are welcome additions to the Red Sox team and will bring unique insight into the Rays' team as a whole.

The Yankees and Rays will each be an interesting foe for the Sox, but do not pose ht threat they may have a year ago. Boston is on its way toward one goal; the "Run for the Ring 09'."

Bruins Have Their Swagger Back

2009-04-06T16:17:00.000-04:00

Rexinis

The Boston Bruins have their swagger back. The Bruins have been atop the Eastern Conference since December and haven't looked back since. The regular season ends next weekend. The Bruins Have clinched the Eastern Conference with a win yesterday over the New York Rangers 1-0. Tim Thomas receieved his 5th shutout of the season blanking the Rangers with 27 saves.

Mark Recchi is proving to the city of Boston that he was a worthy pickup. In his last 5 games he has 3 goals and 2 assists and is also adding that veteran leadership that the Bruins were lacking. After a 2 week skid of losing 6 out of 10 the Bruins are looking better than ever. They are playing some of the best defense in the league allowing the fewest goals out of any team. They are peaking at the right time heading into the playoffs. It still has yet to be determined but the B's are definitaly looking to go deep in the playoffs this season so keep your stations tuned to nesn.

Salem State Men's Lacrosse Team Plays Rain or Shine

2009-04-06T16:14:00.000-04:00

Sherene Abu-Hijleh

Everyday you will see the Salem State Men's Lacrosse team either practicing or playing lacrosse on the field at the O'Keefe Center, no matter what the weather is. Whether it's raining, sleeting, hailing, snowing, or even below freezing outside, the men of the lax team grab their equipment, suit up, and head out to play.

That shows dedication.

The weather hasn't been in favor for any of the spring sports teams here at Salem State. A lot of the student-athletes who do play a sport in the spring look forward to playing on a nice, warm, sunny day. But there have been only a handful of those days for the spring season.

Not to mention, the jerseys that spring athletes wear are meant to be worn on warm, sunny days. The men's jerseys, a t-shirt and pair of shorts, are made of a light cotton material, easy enough for the body to breathe and not get so hot. But, with the weather being how it's been lately, the athletes are wishing their jerseys kept them warmer. That's where layers come in.

I know when I go out to practice, I cover myself. Normally, I'll wear a tank top, two long sleeve under armors, a t-shirt, a long sleeve, and a sweat shirt. Along with that, I wear a pair of shorts, sweat pants, and long socks. I'm dressed for the arctic, pretty much.

You will see on the sidelines the students wearing sweatshirts and sweatpants, even hats, to keep themselves warm, before going into the game. Some students wear heavy under armor underneath their jerseys along with long socks...(it really works!)

Kyle Tuneburg, a freshman Education major, said, "I wear a tank-top, t-shirt, and an under armor long sleeve underneath my jersey for every game." Tuneburg, being a goalie for the team, has to be able to maneuver his arms freely while in net. And with the layers that he wears, along with his equipment, "It's kind of hard and sometimes gets annoying while in net." I wouldn't doubt it.

It seems as if Mother Nature hasn't cut the team a break. Two days before their home opener against Salve Regina on March 7th, the entire team came together and shoveled the snow off the field. That's right, they shoveled, using the same ol' shovels any homeowner would use to shovel out their walkway.

"We spent five hours shoveling that field. It took so long and we were very tired, but we really wanted to play, so we did it." -Brandon Cali, junior Criminal Justice major

The hard work and shoveling did not seem to have paid off for our home team that game. The Vikings lost to Salve Regina 4-9.

Spending two hours on the field, everyday, working up a sweat in freezing cold weather, isn't an ideal practice for many, but for this team, it's what needs to be done to get those wins. Every athlete on this team has come together and performed to the best of their ability, no matter what Mother Nature has in store for them.

"Everyone we have right now is putting their heart into the game and our hard work is paying off in practice."- Cali

Practice makes perfect. That's what they say. For the Salem State Men's Lacrosse team, not only does practice make perfect, but it's inevitable. They practice rain or shine.

The week in the world of Boston's sports!

2009-04-06T16:13:00.000-04:00

Amanda M.

1. Opening day of the Red Sox is next week!

Red Sox Nation is anxious for the start of the sounds, sights, and smells of the Red Sox 2009-2o10 season. Boston will soon be buzzing with Italian sausage stands on Lansdowne St., a sea of red and white dressed people crowding the bars, and of course the sounds of the fans cheering on Pedroia, Ellsbury and Papelbon. The final preparations at Fenway are being completed this week. This is the eighth year in a row that Fenway has undergone renovations, and when they are complete, will extend the ballparks life another 40 to 50 years. Some of the renovations this year include adding more seats in the upper right field, new backstop netting has been installed, and a new Cumberland Farms sign located in the right field roof seats.

2. I officially love Paul Pierce, here's why....

Many celebrities such as Dane Cook, Shaq, and Jimmy Fallon have jumped on the Twitter bandwagon. Paul Pierce can now be added to this elite list, to which I am extremely excited about (I'm already one of his thousands of followers)! I'm a little upset I missed this opportunity though --

On March 29th, Pierce’s Twitter update boasted that he would be giving away five tickets to that afternoon’s game against Oklahoma City. The five lucky fans had to be wearing a Pierce jersey, and shout the password, “Truth.”

Celtics fan Michael Chase took him up on the offer and found himself at the players’ entrance a few hours later, where, sure enough, Pierce pulled up, tickets in hand.

"When I arrived there was already a group of five fans, which quickly grew to about ten. Almost exactly on the dot at 4:30, a Range Rover with California plates and tinted windows pulled up. The window rolled down and Paul Pierced asked us what the password was. Everyone shouted “Truth” and he started dishing out tickets." - Michael Chase

Wish I had gotten the memo!

3. Bruins playoff tickets went on sale

It's official -- the Bruins are heading to the playoffs this year. They have been in first place in the Eastern Conference for most of the year, and now they have their chance to prove to everyone that they belong there. On April 2nd, the B's beat the Senators 2-1, to make this their fifth straight win in a row! So start lining up now for tickets, I'm sure they'll go fast!

4. Patriots best and worst look-a-likes

I was searching the web for Patriots news, but it's a slow news week I guess. I mean they did announce their preseason schedule this week, but doesn't it feel like the season just ended, and preseason schedule talk already!? Too soon for me! So I thought this was more interesting - on boston.com, they feature Patriots players and the people who look like them (or not)! Here are my picks for best and worst - check out this link and let me know if u agree ... http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/gallery/patriots_lookalikes?pg=2

My pick for best...Greg Kinsey as Richard Seymour

And worst...Driftwood as the Patriot Mascot (am I missing something?)

5. My number five reason for loving Boston sports this week is --- how could you NOT love it!?

--the Red Sox mayhem begins next week, keep a look-out for coworkers calling in "sick" on beautiful days when the Sox "conveniently" have a 1 p.m. game time.

--Paul Pierce loves Twitter and his fans..

--the Bruins bring Boston another nail-biting playoff season..

--and even though the Patriots are not even close to starting their season, there are plenty of people all around Boston who still try to look like them!

I love that dirty water!

Peppers or Taylor

2009-04-06T16:11:00.001-04:00

Steven Orsini

Julius Peppers is 7 years into the NFL, and has put up atounding numbers as a Caronlina Panthers DE. Jason Taylor, for most of his career, played for the Miami Dolphins for most of his carreer, and is not a free agent. He has put up great numbers too, even as he got older. This beg the question, if you colud only have one, which one would you take. I think the most obvius choice would be Peppers. Peppers, is younger and will last years to come. I believe he looks to be on the surface a better pick until you get into the Patriots needs.
The Patriots almost never overpay for players. Peppers want Hanyesworth money. Haynesworth is being paid 180 million in his contract with the Redskins. Is Peppers worth 180 mil? Maybe? Will the Patriots pay him 180 million? Probably not. Peppers, a very talented DE, wants to play in a 3-4 defense. The patriots specialize in the 3-4. Peppers would be converted to an OLB if he were to play here. The thing is, we dont know how he will play as an OLB. Peppers is talented, and athletic enough to do the transition, but is it worth 180 million or more to basically "try" something. You dont really know what the Patriots will get. At the worst, he would have to stay as DE if he failed, but that would almost certainly mean the release or trade of Seymour. At the right price Peppers is a feasible option, but only at the right price.
As for Jason taylor, he is beyond his prime and only getting older. He may have a few good years left him him, but definatley not as muhc as Peppers would. Aside from these downsides, Taylor is a better option. He can still play at a high level, but will also cost significantly less money than would Peppers. He has veteran leadership skills, and would fit very well into the system.
Taylor, is the safer bet of the two players. He wont cost as much and will have an impact on the team. He may not be as young or as good as Peppers, but he wont require the money or the trades needed to put him into a Patriots uniform.

Steven Orsini

3 comments:

RNS sports staff said...: This post has been removed by the author.; April 2, 2009 12:10 PM
RNS sports staff said...: Tuquan Watt

Peppers is the better player no doubt but he's not worth 180 million dollars.. Taylor brings just about the same skills as Peppers. If the patriots were smart they would go after Taylor. It's less stress on their organization

Jason Taylor Talk- New England Patriots

2009-04-06T12:54:00.000-04:00

Chris Santarpio

PAT'S WOULD LOVE TO ADD TAYLOR

Recently, there has been talk about the New England Patriots trying to land defensive end Jason Taylor. Taylor would be a great pick up, if the Patriots could get him, mainly becasue he is a proven defensive end. He is a pro-bowler, he has made every team he has played for better defensively. Although, the Patriots are not the only team interested in signing Taylor, also the Miami Dolphins are also in the running. This doesn't seem like a shocker to me, becasue Taylor is a former Miami Dolphin and they know what he can do and how valuable a player he really is. Taylor would help out the Patriots defense because he could be used either as a defensive end or linebacker. I feel that Patriots would be more interested in using him as an outside linebacker, with Richard Seymour and Ty Warren as our defensive ends now, Taylor would make a great fit in place of Mike Vrabel. Although some fans are leaning towards not signing Taylor because he is getting old and some say that he is overrated. I think that if the Patriots pick up some younger players in the draft, the verterans on the team, like Taylor is the Patriots land him, can help the rookies develop into well rounded players. On the other hand, there are some reasons why the two other teams released him. It is said that the Dolphins released Taylor because he was "too hollywood" and the Redskins released him becasue he wouldn't work out with the team. With these problems to look at, some teams might see Taylor as a hassel rather than a good addition. Time will tell, to see where Taylor goes this season, but there is not a doubt in my mind that he will be playing some where next season.

2009 Red Sox are Madoffs of baseball

2009-04-02T13:25:00.000-04:00

Brett M. Rhyne

There seems to be general agreement — with the exception of me — about the Sox, Yanks and Rays competing for the top slots and the O's and Jays filling out the bottom of the bracket. Wow, gutsy calls, guys. I bet you all bought T-bills at zero percent, too.

Most of you fail to weigh economic factors heavily enough in your analysis. I'm making the case that the 2009 Red Sox are the Bernie Madoffs of Major League Baseball: they appear successful so long as there is a continual influx of resources from below. Once those resources dry up, the whole system crumbles. To make up for the contributions lost when established players age, get injured or leave, the Red Sox rely on their farm products; too heavily, I would say. In years past, they could afford to throw about one guy a year into the mix: Youkilis, Papelbon, Lester, Perdroia. This year, the youngsters on the team — Ellsbury, Lowery, Buchholz, Masterson, Bard, Bowden, etc., etc. — all need to have breakout years in order for the Sox to succeed, because the rest of the team is much weaker.

(Consider 2006, when the two youngsters the organization relied upon heavily were Manny Delcarmen and — yikes — Erik Hansen. In that case, only two crucial guys failed to perform as well as projected.)

If the youngsters don't perform, management will be forced to go out and get the pieces they need. This is Erik's point when he says,

[The Red Sox] have the assets to go out and get players in year that we may see more teams willing to part with their players due to the uncertainty in the economy. A team that in previous years didn't dump salary because they were only five games out, might be more willing if they are in a smaller market.

What I'm saying is, such stopgap measures rarely work. Just ask the Yankees. This ponzi scheme won't survive the summer.

So, again, my five:

New York Yankees (AL East champs)
Tampa Bay Rays (wild card)
Toronto Blue Jays
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox

Staff picks for the AL East

2009-03-30T16:33:00.000-04:00

Brett M. Rhyne

With the baseball season practically upon us—you forgot it was almost April, didn’t you? This has been a very long winter—it behooves us to offer our picks for the AL East, the most dramatic and entertaining division in the big leagues, thanks in no small part due to the fact that it serves as home to both our beloved Boston Red Sox and the dreaded New York Yankees. I’ll start:

New York Yankees: The best team money can buy got better this off-season with a quarter-billion dollars in new acquisitions, and that doesn't even include the inevitable mid-season signing of this year's Best Starting Pitcher Available, Pedro Martínez. He will, of course, be a bust, but live arms CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett should carry the Yank-me's into the post-season. Sure, the lineup and defense have more holes than Roger Clemens' story, but once A-Roid returns, he and opposite number Mark Teixiera—the best three-four punch since, well, Manny Ortiz—and stalwart Derek Jeter will supply enough wood and leather for the Evil Empire to capture the flag.
Tampa Bay Rays: Last year was no fluke. The Rays will continue to compete, largely on the strength of their superlative young starting pitching and the offense of their young talents, Evan “Desperate Housewife” Longoria and Carlos “Why Can't The Red Sox Get Players Like That?” Peña, as well as other young standouts like Carl Crawford, BJ Upton, etc. etc. Did I mention they were young? The Tropicana Dome will be the Rays' secret weapon and the bullpen will be their Achilles heel, and it would be no surprise if they end up with the best home record and the worst road record in the league. Still, they have the talent—and now, the experience—to take the wild card.
Toronto Blue Jays: Just as our neighbor to the north is suffering more than we are during this economic downturn, so too is Canada's lone representative in Major League Baseball. The weakness of the Canadian dollar severely hinders the ability of Jays' management to assemble—through the market or the farm—a competitive team. They'll be lucky to finish 10 games below .500. Still, they’re more fun to watch than Baltimore, if for no other reason than they, not the Orioles, now have Kevin Millar at first base. Before the season's end, the Jays will be candidates for relocation or contraction.
Baltimore Orioles: At least they have snazzy uniforms; and, as far as the rest of the division is concerned, no more Erik Bedard to pitch a good game once in a while. The Birds will continue to nest among the dregs of the Junior Circuit.
Boston Red Sox: 2009 may well become known as the Year of the Great Collapse. Predictably fine years from homegrown talents Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester and Jonathan Papelbon, as well as imports Jason Bay and setup man Ramon Ramirez, will get the Old Towne Team off to a good start. As the season progresses, though, centerfielder/leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury will continue to fail to live up to expectations, necessitating his getting dropped to the ninth slot in the lineup. Whoever thought we'd miss Coco Crisp? Likewise with Jed Lowrie, whose ongoing troubles at the plate will affect his defense and have us pining for (choose one): (a) Julio Lugo; (b) Alex Gonzalez; (c) Edgar Renteria; (d) Nomar Garciaparra; (e) any of the above. In every one of the hundred or so games that he plays, JD Drew—one of this writer’s favorites—will go 1-4 with two walks, simultaneously raising his OBP while lowering his BA. Aging vets Jason Varitek, Mike Lowell and David Ortiz will initially rebound from off years/injuries, but all three will break down by August, with no comparable substitutes in sight. Starter Josh Beckett will suffer his usual assortment of blisters, strains and pulls, thereby limiting his contribution, while Dice-K Matsuzaka will simultaneously own one of the league’s lowest ERAs and highest WHIPs. Tim Wakefield—another favorite—will lose as many games as he wins, and neither will be in double digits. The fifth spot will be a work in progress, with candidates including underperforming wunderkind Clay Buchholz and losing gambles Brad Penny and John Smoltz. Ultimately, sinkerballer Justin Masterson is moved out of the bullpen, weakening an already unreliable middle-relief corps. The Sox jump out to an early season lead in the standings, but fade down the stretch, falling behind first the Yankees, then the Rays, Jays and O’s. Oh, and the consecutive-game home sellout streak ends, too, shortly after the All Star Break, as the team tumbles.