Lowell's Surgery Successful

Two days before we all ring in the New Year with our friends and family, Mike Lowell had surgery on his torn liagment in his thumb. According to ESPN, the surgery was successful and Lowell is expected to be healed and ready to go when hitters report to Fort Myers in just over 2 months. When doing the surgery, the Boston Globe reported that Dr. Donald Sheridan discovered the ligament 95% torn. Continue Reading »

Third Base Uncertainty

Throughout the off-season, there has been a buzz surrounding who would fill the third base slot  for the Sox in 2010. First, there was an attempt to trade Mike Lowell to Texas to free up some salary, but it fell through following the discovery of his thumb injury. Then, rumors about Adrian Beltre’s interest in coming to the East coast and playing for Tito and the gang gained some steam and after dying down for a bit, they have reemerged this week. Ignoring other options and money for the sake of this debate, would Lowell or Beltre be the best fit at third base this season for the Sox? Continue Reading »

And Then There was 1...

This afternoon, the Met’s reached an agreement with Jason Bay, affirming what has been speculated for the past few weeks. With the larger market teams unwilling to offer Bay the 5th year and extra money he was asking for, the potential landing spots for the left fielder shrunk considerably and resulted in only one serious offer on the table. Now that Bay is taken, all the attention is on Matt Holliday. Continue Reading »

65 Days and Counting

For any die-hard Red Sox fan, the next 65 days will be the most difficult to fight through. The roster is mostly set, barring any unforeseen surprises, and besides Lowell’s thumb surgery, there are no other news stories to follow. What is an anxious Sox fan to do until February 18th when pitchers and catchers report to sunny Fort Myers, FL? Here are a few suggestions… Continue Reading »

Jed Lowrie's Future

 A once highly-tauted shortstop and second baseman, Lowrie has struggled to make a name for himself in the big leagues. Between not getting enough playing time and injuries, Lowrie has posted a terrible .235 average in 328 at-bats in the majors and has had more strikeouts (88) than hits (77). Given recent history with the revolving door at shortstop, Lowrie still may have a chance to prove his worth and be the Sox shortstop of the future. Continue Reading »

Sox Prospects: Catchers

Thanks to the trade for Victor Martinez at the trade deadline last season and the resigning of Jason Varitek, the Sox have a fairly strong catching core in the major leagues, but developing young catchers is crucial to an organization’s continued success. Continued here...

Bay State of Mind

Throughout Red Sox nation there has been constant chatter about Jason Bay since the end of the 2009 season. Whether you believe the Sox should have thrown in an extra year and a bit more money to bring Bay back to Fenway or you feel he is overated and are glad he is gone, everyone has an opinion. Despite earlier reports, it appears as though Bay and his agent Joe Urbon are having a difficult time finding a home for the slugger as we approach the new year. Continued here...

Festivus for the Rest-of-Us

As a continuation of my post on www.bosoxinjection.com, there are a few other people I have issues with this Festivus evening.

My first issue is with Eli Manning. You are a pompous jerk through and through. From the day of the 2004 NFL draft, I knew you were the scum of the earth. Any respectable human being would have been ecstatic to be drafted #1 overall in by the Chargers, but instead, your arrogant, entitled attitude forced the San Diego Chargers to trade you because you refused to play for them. As much as I hate the Colts, your brother Peyton is at least an honorable person who has earned others admiration by consistently performing at a high level. You, however, have done nothing but tarnish the great Manning name by being a cocky punk.

My next issue is with David Beckham. No one likes you here. You have no respect for your team, league, or fans and don't deserve to wear the LA Galaxy uniform. You are a disgrace to sportsmanship and only give effort when you feel like it or there is extra money involved. Your own fans in LA are even booing you, can't you take a hint? Take Posh Spice and go to a country that wants you...oh wait, there aren't any. You have the money and the celebrity, do us all a favor and stay off the soccer pitch.

My final issue is with Brett Favre. What happened to the respectable Green Bay Packer lifer? You have plummeted from being an honorable person to being a slime-ball. I don't care what success you have on the field, the way you have handled yourself over the past two seasons has permanently damaged your reputation beyond repair. You can have your records and streaks, but can no longer have any fan loyalty. It is sleezy to use retirement as a vehicle to be able to sign with another team, and you know that. Disgraceful.

Lowell Remains in Boston

Check out my article on Lowell's failed trade.

Holliday Break for the Sox

Check out my article on the Sox status this off-season.

Is Kansas State for Real?

 

Kansas State basketball is making a comeback.

ADRIANNNNNN, Please Come to Boston

My letter to Adrian Gonzalez.

OF Issues Galore

Check out my post on the Red Sox outfielder issues.

Lackey to the Sox?

Check out my article on the breaking news surrounding John Lackey.

Heisman Impact on Bowls

Check out my article on the Heisman finalists.

What is Theo doing?

Check out my post questioning Theo Epstein thus far this off-season.

Sox Stocking Stuffed with Prospects

Check out my article on the Red Sox top prospects.

Recipe for Success? Dominate the Paint

Check out my story on big men in college basketball.

Boof to the Rescure...Or Not

Red Sox sign Boof Bonser. Click here for more!

Bye Bye Mikey

 

Check out my article on the Mike Lowell trade.

Gammons Out at ESPN

At this week's MLB Winter Meetings, there has already been a big announcement, but it does not revolve around a potential trade. Peter Gammons released a statement yesterday afternoon stating that he will be leaving ESPN in a week or so after his 20 years with the company. Gammons claimed he wants to move on to other career endeavors, which we have now learned is NESN and the MLB Network.

After Gammons gave the sports world a scare in June of 2006 when he had a brain aneurysm burst and he was rushed into surgery, his air time at ESPN has been limited. It has been obvious to the Gammons faithful that he was at full health and wanted to be back on the air, but ESPN would not return him to his usual work load one he returned.

The Hall of Fame reporter Peter Gammons has been in the sports media world for over 40 years. He started writing for the Boston Globe in 1969 and had a brief 3-year stint with Sports Illustrated as their lead baseball columnist from 1976-78. The Globe called Gammons back and he stayed there until 1986 when Sports Illustrated called him back. While Gammons was still writing for Sports Illustrated, ESPN called him and asked him to be a studio broadcaster for Baseball Tonight. Since 1988, Gammons has been a knowledgeable, calm voice, who never tried to hide being a hardcore Red Sox fan who grew up outside of Boston.

Being a Red Sox fan, I feel Gammons is finally back home, literally and figuratively. Living on Cape Cod, Gammons now works closer to home and for a team that he has so passionately covered, through print and TV, for decades. Gammons leaving ESPN is a loss to the national baseball community, but a win for Red Sox fans around the country. Thank you Peter Gammons for all you have contributed and will contribute to the sports media world.

Brian 'Fighting Irish' Kelly

Check out my article on Brian Kelly.

BCS Disrespects Mid-Majors

Check out my reactions to the BCS Bowl selections last night.

A Pat's Must Win

The buzz in New England for the past few weeks has been the inability of the Patriots to win on the road. All I keep hearing is that the season is over and the Patriots are terrible. Does anyone realize they are still first in their division and can move 2 games up on the second place Jets with a win today? Does anyone realize that as long as the Pats make the playoffs, they have the experience and knowledge to win the super bowl?

I'm not saying that right now the Pats are playing like super bowl champions, but there are still 5 games left in the season. If their defense can get tough and gain some momentum, there isn't a team in the NFL that wants to play this squad in a win-or-go-home match-up. They have proven over the years that regardless of their regular season struggles or successes, the post-season is the second season in which you can redefine your identity.

That being said, the Pats need to learn how to win close ballgames on the road. Thus far this season, the Pats are 1-4 on the road, only beating the Broncos in Denver with a FG in OT. With 3 of the last 5 games on the road, they can not afford to continue this trend. This afternoon is a statement game, where all fans will see if this team has really improved defensively against the pesky wildcat formation that has tripped up the Pats defense in the past. If the Pats can beat the Dolphins this afternoon, they will have regained some confidence and momentum going into the last quarter of the season.

A win today would also go further than just helping the team. They need to prove to their fan base in New England and across the country that they are capable of winning when they have to and are improving with each practice. The Boston media is the first to jump on you when you are under-performing, but they are also the first to jump on the bandwagon when things are going well. Everyone loves a good bandwagon ride, why not climb aboard?

Luck of the Longhorns

Check out my post on the Longhorn's near miss yesterday.

Drink-in Saturday College Football

Check out my post on Saturday's College Football match-ups.

Marco the Sox Savior?

I am as happy as the next person that Marco Scutaro is on board as the next starting SS of the Red Sox, but is all of the excitement around his signing too much? Let's step back for a minute and look at Scutaro's 2009 stats as compared to the rest of his career.

Without a doubt, Scutaro had his best year as a professional during the 2009 season. He hit .282 with 12 HR's and 60 RBI's in 144 games with the Blue Jays. Even more interesting was Scutaro's 90 BB's last season, which ranked him 7th in AL in that category. By most standards, those are great numbers for a bottom of the lineup hitter with the only poor stat being his 75 K's. However, was last year a fluke?

For his career, Scutaro is a respectable .265 hitter, but has only had 2 seasons in which he hit above .270 (.273 in 2004 with Oakland) and only one season in which he hit over .280 (.282 in 2009 with Toronto). This past season was the first time Marco had eclipsed the 10 HR in his 8 year MLB career and his OBP was .052 higher than his career average. Given career trends, the chances the player the Red Sox acquired plays like he did in 2009 is highly unlikely, but there are some things swaying in his favor.

Throughout his career, Scutaro has been on only decent offense clubs (Toronto and Oakland primarily). By being placed in the bottom of the Sox lineup, there will be much less stress and focus on his hitting ability as well as the opportunity for him to see better pitches. On he defensive side of the ball, Scutaro is one of the best fielders in the AL who consistently makes the routine plays and has a tendency to wow you with his range.

Overall the 34 year old SS will fill a gap that the Sox desperately needed on the left side of the infield, but let's not hail him the next Nomar just yet. Let him get out on that Fenway field and convince all of us that he is the stability at that position that the Sox have not seen in years. For Theo and the Sox sake, I hope Marco Scutaro is the answer, because this whole revolving door stuff each year is getting old.

College Basketball: Big East

Check out my latest analysis of Big East basketball.

A Legend Retires

 Check out my post on Bobby Bowden's retirement.