Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Bay gets a rare day off

BY JOE McDONALD

Jason Bay wasn't in the starting lineup Saturday for only the second time this season.

"It's too hot for a Canadian," he said with a smile.

Manager Terry Francona told Bay after Friday's game at Turner Field he was getting the day off.

"I'm in no position to argue with the skipper," said Bay. "It comes at a good time, but it's not something I feel I need."

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Thursday, June 11, 2009

Wang Again Appears Lost as Red Sox Surge Ahead in the Division

By TYLER KEPNER

The Yankees have lost all seven games they have played against the Red Sox this season, the latest by 6-5 at Fenway Park. Wang faced 17 hitters, retiring eight and allowing nine to reach base. He looked nothing like the pitcher who fired a two-hit complete game here in April 2008, and the Yankees do not know if he will make his next start.

“I’m not ready to make that decision right now,” Manager Joe Girardi said. “It’s seven minutes after the game. It’s something we’ll discuss. I’ll sleep on it, and in five days, someone will be out there.”

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Daniel Bard of Boston Red Sox turns Fenway Park radar gun into a must-see attraction

By RON CHIMELIS

On most other teams, Daniel Bard would be a closer in waiting, maybe even a closer for the present.

In the deep Boston Red Sox bullpen, the overpowering right-hander is simply waiting his turn, and making the Fenway Park radar gun a must-see attraction in the process.

"He has done everything we've asked," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said after Tuesday's 7-0 win over New York, a game that saw Bard twice hit 100 miles per hour on the radar gun.

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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Boston Red Sox Team Merchandise is Bestseller in Online Baseball Memorabilia Store

The popularity of a mlb team’s merchandise is directly proportional to the size of its fan base. Little wonder that the Boston Red Sox have such a great history of merchandise sales. The team’s fans are legion. Not only are they one of the most successful teams of the decade, having won two World Series Championships in the last four years (for a total of seven as a franchise), they are also one of the teams most steeped in history.

The Red Sox have been in existence since 1901, far longer than any fan can remember. The team was there from the beginning of the league, being one of the eight charter franchises. During those early years, they were the dominant power in baseball. They took the first World Series in 1903 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and again four more times before 1919. However, after that came the longest drought in league history. Oh yes they came close many times, but only in 2004, more than 80 years after their last win did they again recapture the World Series Championships. And of course, they did it again last 2007 and even today figure to be one of the top contenders.

Boston Red Sox Gifts
Boston Red Sox Gifts
The enormity of the Red Sox fan base is such that you would certainly easily find someone you know who is a fan of the team to some degree. This enormous fan base has given rise to the manufacturing of many gift items targeted at these fans. Little wonder then that if you do know a Red Sox fan, it’s bound to be quite easy to find a gift item for him or for her. All you have to do is click on an item online and you’re done.

Here are some gift suggestions you can consider as gifts for die hard Red Sox fans:

Topping the list of potential Boston Red Sox Gifts you can buy are memorabilia items such as replica mini helmets and Red Sox team trinket boxes. However, for more serious fans, there are high value minted commemorative coins as well as limited edition photo mints of prominent players, both active and those already in the hall of fame. There are also limited edition commemorative coin sets that celebrate important Boston Red Sox milestones, which are sure to become important and valuable collector’s items in the years to come.

Boston Red Sox Jewelry
Boston Red Sox JewelryAnother category that has enjoyed an upsurge in sales is the Boston Red Sox Jewelry category. The section contains a lot of items to choose from, starting with casual wearing silver earrings made in the likeness of the Red Sox Logo, logo shaped pendants, rings, and logo embossed watches.

Boston Red Sox jewelry is best worn casually, especially if you are able to complete a game time ensemble that combines team apparel and matching jewelry. You will surely be the best dressed die hard Red Sox fan at the stadium. However, you can also wear your Red Sox themed jewelry at the office, as some of the bracelets and necklaces, and even watches are so well crafted that they complement office attire pretty well. There are watches of every make, every model, and every size – for men, women, and kids too. There are leather strap watches, chronographs, classic silver strap watches and even Velcro strap models that cling to your wrist no matter how hard you swing a bat.

Wearing team-themed jewelry is a good way to break the monotony of office wear, without compromising dress code. It may even be a way for you to start a conversation among fellow Boston Red Sox fans at the office whom you never knew to be fans.

Boston Red Sox Home Decor
Red Sox Home Run Snowman Night LightRed Sox Grand Slam Night LightRed Sox Logo Mantle ClockRed Sox Ceramic Platter
Last of the list of top sellers is Boston Red Sox home décor. There are two possible explanations for this phenomenon. It is either Boston Red Sox fans really just love their team so much that they are willing to populate their home with team-themed furniture, or second, the furniture really just looks great and are comfortable to use. Of course there could be a third explanation – which is that fans do love the team, and the items really are of high quality and are quite comfy too. The sure money is on the third.

You can get Boston Red Sox Home Décor for your living room, bedroom, TV room, - and yes even the bathroom. The living room will look good with a Boston Red Sox video chair or two near the TV, and maybe a red Sox Big Daddy recliner a little to the side. There are also Red Sox kitchen utensils, placemats, salt and peppershakers, and serving trays. The bedroom could even be improved by several Red Sox pillows here and there and maybe a Red Sox headboard, which will surely have you dreaming of more pennants and World Series wins while you sleep.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

New Red Sox obsession: What's wrong with Daisuke Matsuzaka?

By 'Duk

It wouldn't be Red Sox Nation without a crisis du jour and now that everyone has come to peace with the end of Big Papi's career (albeit somewhat begrudgingly), there's a new hand-wringing subject for Boston's woe-are-we community.

Goes by the name of Dice-K.

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Red Sox show no interest in Vizquel

The buzz around Boston is that the Red Sox need a shortstop, but that buzz hasn’t landed anywhere near Rangers’ veteran Omar Vizquel.

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John Smoltz Nearing Return: Should Red Sox Pitchers Worry?

by Eric Annett

Last night, John Smoltz made more progress to advance himself on the long road of recovery from last year's season-ending shoulder surgery.

With Pawtucket hosting the visiting Durham Bulls, Smoltzy fired six innings for the PawSox, limiting Durham to one run and one hit with two walks and three strikeouts. 51 of his 74 pitches found the strike zone, as Smoltz retired the last ten batters he faced.

After the game Smoltz said his shoulder felt fine. During the game, he topped out at 91 MPH on the radar gun.

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Saturday, June 6, 2009

How Nick Johnson could fit in Boston

A rival talent evaluator mused Thursday about how Nick Johnson -- who has been the subject of trade talks between the Red Sox and Nationals -- would be perfect for Boston. Washington is asking for pitching, but Boston is reluctant to part with any of its better young pitchers.

"He'd be perfect for the Red Sox," the evaluator said. "You put Johnson and [Kevin] Youkilis together in that lineup back-to-back, and the opposing pitcher would constantly need eight or 10 or 15 pitches to get through just those two guys every time through the lineup."

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Philly shows interest in Boston's Penny

Red Sox reportedly ask for Donald in return for pitcher

By Todd Zolecki

The Phillies have been playing good baseball for three weeks, and pitching is a big reason why.

They had won 16 of 20 games entering Friday night's game against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The pitching staff had a 3.86 ERA in that stretch (it had a 5.36 ERA before that), and Phillies starters are 7-0 with a 2.72 ERA in the seven games since Brett Myers left a May 27 game against the Marlins with a hip injury that likely ended his season.

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Boston Red Sox Memorabilia

Aside from the history of winning and the fanatical fans, what makes Boston Red Sox Memorabilia so compelling to the fans. A quick peek at what types of memorabilia the site has to offer quickly gives an answer.

The page that holds the Boston Red Sox Memorabilia is a veritable treasure trove of valuable minted coins and photo mints of your favorite Red Sox milestones and players – the type fans will be inclined to display and be proud of. Here you will find things such as a Red Sox 24kt Gold & Infield Dirt 3 Coin Set that has three minted coins honouring the team and the field they’ve played in for decades. Beside it you may find something like a Manny Ramirez 24kt Gold Coin Photo Mint that has commemorative team coins, sometimes in gold, and sometimes in silver, all or most are quite valuable, and will surely be more valuable as time passes.

Boston Red Sox memorabilia on this site is not just all about cards, or little doohickeys like other stores, these items are premium items that serious collectors seek. Serious collectors know that toys and trinkets lose their value quickly, but a good piece of memorabilia can last several lifetimes, and may even be a good family heirloom one day.

For Boston Red Sox Merchandise visit our online

MLB Shop

Diehardfans.com

Friday, June 5, 2009

Josh Beckett Cruises in Red Sox Win

by Nick Poust

With two out in the bottom of the seventh, Detroit Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson lined a fastball into right field for a single, moving Magglio Ordonez, who had reached on a walk, to second base.

Just like that, Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett’s bid for a no-hitter was broken.

His offense gave him a lead to work with before he took the mound. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia, newly inserted into the leadoff spot, nailed the first fastball he saw from Armando Gallaraga for a single.

Right fielder J.D. Drew, who was also part of the lineup’s reconstruction, was next. Gallaraga missed with a fastball, then twirled in a nasty changeup for a strike. For remainder of the plate appearance, Drew saw nothing but sliders.

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David Ortiz plans to see eye doctor for help

By Ron Borges

Although his batting average remained shriveled, David Ortiz [stats] was in an expansive mood yesterday at Comerica Park.

Ortiz hit two balls solidly the night before, the last for a double that gave him something good to sleep on. So, too, did the fact he knew with a day game after a night game and a potentially nasty opposing pitcher like Dontrelle Willis, he would be given a respite from what has been perhaps the most challenging period of his career.

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Would Glavine Go For Boston? If So, Where Would He Fit?

by Anthony Emerson

A source close to Tom Glavine told Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald that the Boston Red Sox are "close to the top, if not at the top..." of a potential list of teams that Glavine could lend his services to.

The Red Sox have signed Glavine's long time friend and teammate John Smoltz during the offseason.

As I'm sure you know, Glavine was recently cut by his longtime team, the Atlanta Braves.

If Glavine is intrested in Boston, this would lead to the dilemma: Where would Tommy Glavine fit with the Red Sox?

The answer is, nowhere really.

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Thursday, June 4, 2009

Bullpen the backbone of Red Sox

Boston relievers sport the best 'pen ERA in Major Leagues

By Ian Browne

The reason the Red Sox entered Wednesday night's contest trailing the Yankees by just one game in the American League East? Without question, the brilliance of the bullpen.

While other areas of the team have had their share of peaks and valleys, manager Terry Francona's relievers have been a constant source of success.

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Kotsay activated by Red Sox from DL

Outfielder/first baseman set back by calf injury after surgery

By Ian Browne

How does Mark Kotsay feel to at last be on the active roster? The first baseman/outfielder jokingly started an interview session by clapping for himself.

It has been a sometimes tedious road back for Kotsay, who underwent back surgery in late January and then had his return to the Red Sox delayed by a month when his right calf acted up during a Minor League rehab game.

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Boston Red Sox Position Players Report Card: Model of Mediocrity in May

by Todd Civin

When not pounding the pavement for the elusive sports writing position, I spend my time as a substitute teacher in a neighboring town. My wife and I have made the decision to keep on chasing the sports writing dream, but to also turn one eye in the direction of becoming a full-fledged educator.

In my ever-so-brief vocation as a substitute, I can already sense some of the frustration a teacher feels when a star pupil forgets to bring his brain to class.

One day Johnny can recite the Declaration of Independence, and the next day he doesn't know the alphabet.

Such was the month of May for the Boston Red Sox.

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Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Boston Red Sox: Francona's Lineup Changes Produce Powerful Results for Red Sox

by Matt Dolloff

The Boston Red Sox were just 15-14 in May, going through some tough road swings and suffering from inconsistency on both sides of the ball. They could have easily finished 14-15 if not for yesterday’s 8-2 victory at Toronto, and who knows how the game would have ended up without the changes manager Terry Francona made to the lineup?



The Red Sox entered Sunday’s game 1-4 in their previous five games, and they scored only 13 runs in that span. Francona felt it was time to make a radical change in order to spark the offense to produce like they had as recently as the beginning of May.

He mentioned how the lack of production from the majority of the lineup was becoming more prevalent.

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Williams' fishing memorabilia stolen

By Lisa Winston

A sports memorabilia auction held in New Hampshire on Saturday was marred by the theft of several items that had belonged to Ted Williams, the late Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer.

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John Smoltz is about to remind us how smart Boston Red Sox are

by William Freehling

John Smoltz is close to reminding us again just how smart the Boston Red Sox are.



Given up for dead by the Atlanta Braves after suffering a shoulder injury last year, Smoltz signed on with the Red Sox for $5.5 million. That's right, the Red Sox gave a 42-year-old man coming off shoulder surgery more than $5 million to pitch just half the regular season.

Most teams, which think conventionally, would have scoffed at that price tag. But the Red Sox aren't most teams. They saw past Smoltz's surgically repaired shoulder and looked at career numbers that are mind-numbing -- 210 wins, 154 saves, more than 3,000 strikeouts and a career 3.26 ERA. They also looked at a guy with legendary athleticism and competitive drive.

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