Tag Archives: Carl Crawford

Jul 24 2012

The Grass Really is Greener on the other Side…

By Andy Lindberg

I love adventures, and any time I can couple an adventure with sports, it is the peak of the mountain for me.  This past week I decided to take an adventure to the West Coast, a place I had never even been close to.  From Sunday night, July 15 through Saturday night, July 21, I was in Oakland, CA devoting my time to rolling through the ‘hood and going to Oakland Athletics games.  I went to five A’s games, to be exact.

It didn’t take long for me to become enthralled with the atmosphere in the concrete monolith known as O.co Coliseum.  Never drawing large crowds, the passion for A’s baseball in Oakland is surprisingly palpable, made all the more entertaining for me by the fact that three ex-Red Sox make up the heart of the batting order.  Coco Crisp, Josh Reddick, and a resurgent Brandon Moss have become starting-nine staples on the east side of San Francisco Bay.

Brandon Moss has hit a single season high 11 home runs since joining Oakland

I was not once bored with watching the 2012 Athletics.  They’re exciting, likable, and can they ever come up with timely hits.  To this point in the season, the Oakland A’s have 11 walk-off hits.  Brandon Hicks and Brandon Moss both had walk-off hits (a home run and a single, respectively) while I was in O-Town.  For a team that is 51-44 on July 24, tied with the Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim (STILL the most absurd name in baseball) for the second AL Wild Card spot, the A’s sport a league-worst .228 batting average.  They are 27th in RBI with 344 and their batters have struck out 764 times, ninth most in baseball.

So why, pray tell, are the A’s a winning baseball team tied for a playoff spot in late July with a total payroll of  $54.5M?  The Red Sox are four games out of a wild card spot, yet have committed $173.2M to a team with a losing record (48-49) on July 24.

Along with timely hitting, the A’s have shown they can pitch, and pitch very well with young arms and an established bullpen.  Pitching wins, and it shows in Oakland and allows the A’s lineup to come up with timely hits and ease the pressure off of struggling hitters.  The A’s are fourth in baseball with a 3.37 ERA.  They have only allowed 769 hits (good for 4th in baseball), have only allowed 321 earned runs (also tied for 4th), have only allowed 77 home runs (good for sole possession of 4th), and have a WHIP of 1.23 (good for 3rd in baseball).  The A’s once again have a stockpile of young talent at the starting pitching position.

Twenty-five-year-old Tommy Milone is 9-6 with a 3.34 ERA and a 120 ERA+ (an ERA+ above 100 is considered above average).  Twenty-three-year-old Jarrod Parker is 7-4 with a 3.00 ERA and 133 ERA+.  Brandon McCarthy and Travis Blackley are both having exceptional years and 25-year-old Ryan Cook is enjoying his first All-Star season in the bullpen.

So what have the A’s done differently than Boston in order to win so much with a payroll roughly $120M LESS than the Red Sox’?  First and foremost, even with limited funding, the A’s have not pursued overhyped free agents nor have they committed to trading away young talent under team control for “win-now” rental players.

I think back on Theo Epstein’s tenure in Boston and yes, the man helped build a two-time World Championship team, but many of the moves he made were, for lack of a better word, atrocious.  Free agent pickups like Julio Lugo and John Lackey were and have been miserable.  One of the worst trades I can remember was trading outfielder David Murphy for Eric “Going, Going” Gagne in 2007.  Since 2007, Murphy has hit .280 in six years with Texas along with a .343 OBP and 106 OPS+ (again, above 100 is above average).  He has 66 home runs and 48 stolen bases.  After the trade, Murphy batted .343 for Texas for the rest of 2007.  Eric Gagne, however, went 2-2 for Boston with a 6.75 ERA in 20 games and was, mercifully, not a postseason-ender that year.  Carl Crawford is yet to be determined, but with how this season has gone and with rumors of Crawford being shopped for Hanley Ramirez, we can chalk that up to another poor Epstein move.

This offseason the A’s swapped outfielder Ryan Sweeney and closer Andrew Bailey to the Red Sox for outfielder Josh Reddick, a player I was screaming to keep knowing Crawford might not be 100% and also having that right-filed slot open.  To this point in the season Andrew Bailey hasn’t pitched in the big leagues due to a thumb injury and Ryan Sweeney has batted .267 with no home runs and 14 RBI.

Meanwhile, in Oakland, Josh Reddick has been taking baseballs to Pound Town.  While batting .271, Reddick has super-smashed 21 home runs and 19 doubles to go with 46 RBI.  Hmm, I see a discrepancy in production from Sweeney and Bailey in that trade…

Josh Reddick stares down a Roy Oswalt offering on Tuesday, July 17.

Let us not forget how the 2004 Red Sox came together as a team and gelled.  Their clubhouse chemistry was amazing.  This year, it is looking more like 25 players and 25 cabs.  In Oakland, the clubhouse chemistry could not be better.  Walk off’s are met with Reddick pies to the face and Gatorade baths.  The team fights for every run they can scrap.  The A’s are fun.  The Red Sox are likely done.

Maybe it’s time Goliath took a lesson from David…

Apr 25 2012

Daily Noontime – April 25, 2012

Sasha Pavlovic paced the Celtics with 16 points, as Boston defeated Miami, 78-66! (Photo Credit: TheBestBasketballBlog.com)

By NoontimeSports.com 

Happy “hump day” and welcome into another outstanding edition of the Daily Noontime! Let’s kickstart the day with some news and headlines!

* Despite no Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, Boston still managed to defeat the Miami Heat on Tuesday, 78-66. Sasha Pavlovic paced the Celtics with 16 points, while Marquis Daniels added 13 points off the bench.

* Boston will conclude its 66-game slate on Thursday when they welcome the Milwaukee Bucks to the TD Garden. Boston is currently 38-27 in the Eastern Conference, and will most likely begin their first round series against Atlanta on the road, as the Hawks have a better record than the Celtics.

* Josh Beckett earned his second win of the 2012 season, as Boston defeated Minnesota, 11-2. Mike Aviles, who hit leadoff, finished the contest with three runs, four hits, two RBIs and one home run, while David Ortiz cranked his third long ball of the season.

* Boston will conclude their three-game series with Minnesota on Wednesday at 8:10pm — Clay Buchholz will oppose Liam Hendriks.

* According to reports – Carl Crawford is seeking a second set of eyes to look at his left elbow. The Red Sox outfielder had returned to Florida to continue his rehab assignment on Tuesday, and according to the manager, there really isn’t anything else to report.

* Boston and Washington will skate for the final time on Wednesday in Game No. 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. The winner will advance to the semi-finals.

* Sources confirmed that Patrice Bergeron sat out of Tuesday’s practice, but is expected to be in the line-up for Boston. Also, Alex Ovechkin has told reporters that he’s unhappy about the amount of ice time he’s experienced in this particular series.

Mar 30 2012

Daily Noontime – March 30, 2012

Brooks Laich netted the game winning goal on Thursday, which helped Washington escape Causeway Street, 3-2! (Photo Credit: Boston Globe/Barry Chin)

By NoontimeSports.com 

It’s Friday, and while we don’t need to break out into song and dance, let’s instead dish out some headlines and news from the Hub!

* Despite rallying to tie the game, Washington’s Brooks Laich netted the game winning shootout goal, which helped the Capitals defeat the Boston Bruins on Thursday, 3-2. Tim Thomas recorded 21 saves between the pipes, and held Washington scoreless for the first two frames. Had Boston won, they would have clinched a playoff spot, but luckily, the Black and Gold will return to the ice on Saturday when they travel to Long Island to face the New York Islanders.

* Bobby Valentine told the media on Thursday that he’s expecting Carl Crawford to begin the season on a rehab assignment. The left fielder underwent wrist surgery this past offseason, and has taken part in bunting drills with the team. However, Valentine doesn’t believe he’ll be able to face living pitching until he possibly experiences “50 at-bats somewhere.”

* The Boston Celtics will return to the hardwood on Friday when they travel to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00pm.

* Celtics President Danny Ainge made his weekly appearance on Boston sports radio WEEI on Thursday, and told The Big Show that he’s not planning on forcing Mickael Pietrus to get back on the court. He’s expected to return to the lineup soon, but according to reports, the Celtics should have more information on his concussion he sustained last week in Philadelphia.

Feb 22 2012

Noonan: The Ups And Downs Of Boston Sports

Bobby Valentine has spiced things up in Florida! (Photo Credit: Boston Herald)

By Matt Noonan 

It’s been a while since a dark, stormy cloud drifted over the city of Boston.

For the past few weeks, Bostonians and New Englanders have appeared aggravated and disgusted with their four major professional sports teams because they’ve either struggled or disengaged.

Yet, let’s take a step back and realize that these particular days will pass because Boston is still technically the “City of Champions,” especially since all four major sports teams have won at least one championship in the past 11-years, right?

So, without further ado, let’s take a stroll downtown and check in with the Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox, who’re currently stealing the spotlight from the New England Patriots, who ended their season a few weeks ago in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Thoughts on the Sox: It’s way too early to deem the upcoming Boston Red Sox season a failure, especially since it’s only been two days of pitchers and catchers.

Manager Bobby Valentine has done a rather decent job with the club over the past few days, and appears eager to help everyone improve, especially Daisuke Matsuzaka, who according to the Boston Globe, played catch with his skipper on Monday. However, the highly touted pitcher isn’t expected to return the Fenway Park bump until midseason, as he’s currently recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Carl Crawford seems focused and determined to improve his performance from last season, despite ending the year with 129 hits, 29 doubles, seven triples, 56 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Also, he struck out 104 times at the plate, too. Yet, similar to Matsuzaka, Valentine doesn’t want to push his leftfielder back into the lineup because he’s currently recovering from surgery on his left wrist.

Finally, a majority of the Sox position players have already arrived in Fort Myers, which is a hopeful sign that they’ve moved on from their chicken and beer rituals from last season. Boston is expected to conduct their first full team workouts on Thursday, and I’m sure after it concludes, we’ll have plenty to discuss around the water cooler in regards to David Ortiz to Cody Ross to Jason Varitek.

The aging Boston Celtics: Literally two weeks ago, I was sitting in the TD Garden watching the Green and White face a Memphis Grizzlies squad that probably should have won this particular clash, especially because they’re younger, quicker, stronger and faster. Although, Kevin Garnett denied the Grizzlies of a much needed win by turning in 22 points and nine rebounds, which helped Boston escape with a 98-80 victory.

Although, ever since that particular day, Boston has endued a 2-6 slump, which includes two losses to a struggling Detroit Pistons team that’ll most likely miss the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Can Danny Ainge salvage the Boston Celtics season? (Photo Credit: Flickr)

The Celtics are a complete mess, and need something or someone to spark their offense and defense, but what exactly should they do?

Should team president Danny Ainge create a blockbuster move or keep the roster intact?

What would Red Auerbach do? OK, that maybe the wrong thing to ask, but really, what would the former coach do in this particular situation?

It’s hard to determine what will happen over the next few weeks, but it’s pretty certain that a change is needed, especially if Boston plans to contend for some hardware in June.

The Bruins need to score goals: Similar to the Celtics, the Bruins are struggling.

They’ve lost two of their last three contests, and registered a goose egg (zero) on the scoreboard for the sixth time this season this past Sunday when the Minnesota Wild blanked them, 2-0 on national television.

However, Boston can salvage their current six-game road trip with wins in St. Louis, Buffalo and Ottawa, which might turn some frowns upside down.

Various reports on Tuesday and Wednesday confirmed that Nathan Horton is expected to remain sidelined, while Rich Peverley continues to be hampered by a knee injury. Also, Shawn Thornton has been battling an illness, which could prevent him from playing against the Blues on Wednesday.

Although, despite the various injuries, as well as bumps and bruises I think, Patrice Bergeron summed it up perfectly when he told the media that his teammates aren’t expecting the front office to locate a “savior” to assist the Bruins, who’re currently on par to snag the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

I don’t think a drastic change is necessary for this particular squad. What Boston needs to do is focus on scoring the first goal, and capitalizing on it. They also need Tim Thomas to keep his mind on hockey, not politics or social media.

The Bruins will be fine, but I’m not ruling out a potential trade that could help Boston in May and June.

Jan 18 2012

Daily Noontime – January 18, 2012

When do you expect Carl Crawford to return to the diamond? April? June? Never? (Photo Credit: Zimbio.com)

By NoontimeSports.com 

Happy “Hump Day,” and welcome into another grand edition of the Daily Noontime!

Here are some headlines and news to kick-start your day, enjoy.

* On Tuesday, Carl Crawford underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left wrist due to soreness he sustained during his offseason training regimen in Arizona. GM Ben Cherington believes the Boston Red Sox leftfielder should be able to play this season. However, it’s possible that the Sox will have to explore other options, while Crawford recovers. Will he return to the diamond in April? We’ll have to wait and see!

* The Boston Bruins dropped to 1-2 on their current four-game road trip, as the Tampa Bay Lightning handed the Black and Gold a 5-3 loss on Tuesday. Nathan Horton netted two goals, Daniel Paille scored a shorthanded goal, and Tim Thomas saved 26 shots between the pipes. The Bruins will wrap up their road trip on Thursday when they travel to New Jersey to face the Devils.    

* Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell was recently fired after his team finished the season, 2-14, and according to a report on Wednesday morning, it’s possible that Peyton Manning may not return to quarterback the team next year.

* According to an interesting Yahoo! Sports blog report, it’s possible that the Boston Celtics might actually deal Paul Pierce, as well as Ray Allen or Kevin Garnett to clear cap room. Both Allen and Garnett are expected to be free agents after the season concludes, while Pierce has two-years remaining on his current contract. The Celtics are currently ranked third in their division, as well as one and a half games out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Dec 27 2011

Five things to look for during the upcoming Red Sox season.

By Andy Lindberg 

Mr. Matt Noonan kindly asked me this weekend if I would write a top-10 list for the Boston Red Sox from the 2011 season; a top-10 list, which would highlight the good things from the 2011 season.  After informing Mr. Noonan that was impossible because there was no way there are 10 good things to take away from last season, he simply requested a top-5 things to look forward to this upcoming 2012 campaign.  In no particular order, here they are.

1. Will Carl Crawford recover?

To say Carl Crawford had a poor season in 2011 would be the definition of an understatement.  In 130 games for Boston, Crawford hit a career-low .255, had a career-low on-base percentage of .289, and stole a measly 18 bases.  For the Red Sox to be successful next year, Crawford has to turn into the solid #3 hitter the Red Sox envisioned he would be.  Crawford needs to get on base and score runs.  The upcoming season will be the one that labels Crawford a bust or a solid investment.

2.  Who will catch?

Jarrod Saltalamacchia did more than I expected of him, playing in 103 games and cracking 16 home runs while driving in 56.  Jason Varitek rounded out the catching platoon over the course of the season.  With Varitek seemingly out of the picture as a player in Boston, the emergence of young Ryan Lavarnway (who was the one player during the final Baltimore series who actually played like he didn’t want to go home) has created a catching controversy.  The Red Sox also went out and signed Kelly Shoppach to a short-term contract.  I anticipate Lavarnway will start the year at Pawtucket while Saltalamacchia and Shoppach platoon for Boston, but Spring Training may dictate otherwise.

3.  How will Daniel Bard and Alfredo Aceves perform as starters?

Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and Clay Buchholz are the only two certainties in the pitching rotation for the upcoming season.  Buchholz is coming off of a lost season due to stress fractures in his back.  John Lackey is lost for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and Daisuke Matsuzaka will be out until at least the All-Star break having undergone the same surgery earlier in the 2011 season.  Alfredo Aceves was arguably the best pickup of the year for the Red Sox and provided quality depth and spot-starting ability.  Daniel Bard not only has an electric fastball, but his slider is devastating to opposing batters and his changeup is coming along as well.  If Boston is rebuilding, Bard’s transition will hopefully provide the Red Sox an outstanding starting pitcher for the 2013 season.

4.  How will Jacoby Ellsbury follow up 2011?

If the Red Sox had made the playoffs, Jacoby Ellsbury would have won American League MVP honors.  Ellsbury hit .321, slugged .552, hit 32 home runs with 105 RBI, stole 39 bases, and amassed 212 hits while leading the league with 364 total bases from the leadoff spot in the lineup.  Ellsbury bounced back after a lost season in 2010 and his production at the top of the lineup in 2012 is imperative for Boston’s success.

5.  Will David Ortiz reach 400 career home runs?

Ortiz may not match his excellent production from 2011, but he currently sits at 378 career homers, only 22 away from 400 all time, a number that would greatly increase his long-shot chances at the Hall of Fame as a designated hitter.  For some perspective, recently elected Hall of Famer Jim rice hit 382 homers with 1,451 RBI in 16 years with Boston.  Ortiz was signed to a two-year contract with Boston and his RBI total is 1,266 and he has 1,760 hits.  It is possible for Ortiz to eclipse Rice’s RBI and home run totals and it is also possible for Ortiz to reach 2,000 career hits.  If he does so, he will go from close but no cigar Hall of Fame chances to possible Hall of Famer.  The DH position, however, severely hurts Ortiz’s chances.

Sep 29 2011

Dear Red Sox…Really?

By Andy Lindberg

I had to sit back and think on this one for a little while.

After the Yankees blew a 7-0 lead to Tampa Bay (which would most likely never happen if the Sox didn’t need NY to win) and the Red Sox kept stranding runners, I got that sick feeling of the inevitable.  I went through all the stages of grief in about 3 minutes, finally culminating in the acceptance that my favorite baseball team was about to complete the most epic collapse in their history, and they were going to do so is stunning Hollywood fashion.

Seriously, if they made a movie about Moneyball, last night is already in production.

The Red Sox didn’t just screw up, they re-defined the word.  From now on, a complete and total epic, disastrous let down should be known as a “Red Sox.”

Boston had the Wild Card in the bag and were very much in contention for the division in early September.  Instead, Boston went 6-20 in the month.  Try counting their wins on their schedule page.  It’s heart-wrenching.

If you’re a Yankee fan–like my cousin–you now have fuel for the fire for decades of verbal torture.  In all honesty, this even may trump the 2004 playoff comeback, because as big of a choke as that was for the Yankees, teams have won four games in a row plenty of times before.  Blowing a 9.5 game lead in less than one month of play?  Not so frequent.

I don’t know whether I’m really all that mad or if some small portion of my brain had me prepared for this.  I’m in a a state of shock, no doubt, but angry, how can you be angry at this team?  Extremely disappointed is the better term for how I feel.  Massively disappointed, like if your kid jacked the keys to your car and went on a bender after dropping out of law school with a 4.0 GPA and a sure fire job offer at a top-tier firm disappointed.

I don’t have kids, but I imagine the feeling is comparable.

Red Sox fans should demand a shakeup.  There is no question the Boston brass has made terrible moves in the last two years that have directly led to this collapse.  Spending a combined $224.5MM on Carl Crawford and John Lackey being the most brazen of them.

$224.5MM.

On two players.

Are.  You.  Serious.

The Red Sox got away from what had made them a premier franchise in the first place.  They once had a stocked farm system rated near the top every single year.  Boston groomed studs far more often than they bought them and extended them for relatively cheap compared to market value.  The Red Sox have tried to slug it out over the free agent market with the Yankees to flex their wallets.  That is a fight few teams, if any, can win.

There is a considerable amount of money coming off the books for Boston, and there must be a rift in the clubhouse.  Players know how each other performs.  To the Boston brass, sometimes it’s better to cut your losses.  You’re going to end up paying obscene money anyway, sometimes it’s better to pay these guys NOT to play, and I’m not talking about Crawford.

This post may be incoherent, but such are my thoughts on this Red Sox season.  I can’t wrap my head around it.  They came in with a whimper and left limping even worse.  For a team that held so much promise, we may now realize that this franchise may be suffering for the long haul.

Jul 24 2011

Red Sox Recap 7/24/11

By Andy Lindberg

In the week and a half after the All-Star break and heading into the trade deadline, the Boston Red Sox racked up an impressive 7-2 record and extended their division lead to three games over the New York Yankees.  The Red Sox have been able to win consistently even with Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz on the disabled list.  Lester is due back Monday and will try to continue to improve on Boston’s AL-best 62-37 record.

For the Carl Crawford haters out there, Crawford picked up where he left off since re-joining the Red Sox after the All-Star break.  In his first game back against Baltimore, Crawford had two hits and has picked up the steal rate over the week as well.  This has provided Boston a gigantic boost in the outfield with Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury, and the white-hot Josh Reddick patrolling right field.

Ellsbury seems to have found the power switch without sacrificing the rest of his game in the process.  Ellsbury hit two homers in the series finale against Baltimore and hit a mammoth 449-foot blast to Williamsburg off of Felix Hernandez and the Mariners at Fenway in game one of that series.

Josh Beckett continues to be nearly unhittable, allowing one hit in eight innings against Tampa Bay and beating Seattle after allowing only one run in seven innings.

More importantly, the Red Sox have pushed Tampa Bay back far enough to the point where it is now a two-horse race in the AL East once again.  With the trade deadline approaching at the end of this week, I am hard-pressed to see Boston making any significant moves.  They may acquire some starting pitching depth, but outside of that, a payer like Carlos Beltran isn’t worth the price when low-cost prospects from the farm system like Josh Reddick fill in quite well.  Boston is slowly getting some pieces back together from the DL, and with Alex Rodriguez of New York sidelined until late August, now is the time for the Red Sox to put some considerable distance between themselves and the Yankees.

Tim Wakefield pitched the final game of the series against Seattle and although he gave up seven runs, he earned career win number 199 and struck out his 2000th batter.  With Wakefield being only one win away from 200 for his career, many have be asking the question of whether or not Wakefield is a Hall of Famer.  So I leave it up to the reader to decide.  Look at the poll below and decide.

Jul 7 2011

Daily Noontime – July 7, 2011

Jeter is three-hits away from 3,000, which is exciting, right?

Good Thursday to everyone and welcome into yet another, Daily Noontime! Yep, we have some news and headlines, so enjoy!

Headlines: 

* It’s yet another day of the Roger Clemens perjury trial and one has to wonder, what does the “Rocket” have to say on Thursday?

* The great John Mackey, who played tight end for the Baltimore Colts has passed away at the age of 69. Certainly, Mackey was a major contributor in the early days of the NFL.

* It’s official, the Boston Red Sox are mimicking themselves of 2010 because of numerous injuries. However, Carl Crawford is expected to return to the line-up after the All-Star Game.

* So, some believe that the NFL Lockout is really close to over, but as one blog states, they’re “at the 5-yard line.”

* If the NFL owners and players don’t reach an agreement soon, some believe the preseason won’t occur, which could be a good or bad thing, right?

* Well, apparently New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is poised to hit 3,000 hits and yes, he’s almost there.

Games to Watch: 

* Tampa Bay at New York Yankees (MLB) – 7:05pm eastern 

* Chicago Cubs at Washington (MLB) – 7:05pm eastern 

* Baltimore at Boston (MLB) – 7:10pm eastern 

* Arizona at St. Louis (MLB) – 8:15pm eastern 

Video of the Day: 

Who leaves their cellphone on during a tennis match? Who? 

Jun 19 2011

Red Sox Week In Review

By Andy Lindberg

While the Boston Red Sox finished the week with a 4-2 record, retaining the best record in the American League, the injury bug has crept up on the team yet again, knocking out Carl Crawford with a hamstring strain and Jed Lowrie with an ailing shoulder.  The Sox also placed Clay Buchholz on the 15-Day DL prior to Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers.  While neither injury to the hitters are as crushing as the Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia injuries of 2010, Crawford had been batting .291 since the beginning of May.  The month of May saw Crawford hit .304 after a dismal .155 start to his season.  While Crawford was not yet in full swing with his hitting or his base stealing (he only had eight when he went down) he was beginning to come together.  Buchholz isn’t too significant a loss at this point, as his scheduled start had already been pushed back and this is more along the lines of a precautionary move before Buchholz’s back gets too bad.

Part of the reason for Boston’s offensive success in lieu of Crawford and JD Drew’s offensive struggles was the calamity Adrian Gonzalez has been causing every time he steps into the batter’s box.  Gonzalez knocked his 1000th career hit on Sunday, a triple into the triangle at Fenway.

Josh Beckett remained exceptional, hurling a 1-hit shutout at Tampa Bay the very night the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup.  Beckett has been unbelievable this season, already matching his win total from last year’s injury-plagued campaign.

Tim Wakefield picked up another win on his quest to 200 wins, and to unseat Roger Clemens and Cy Young as the Red Sox’ all time wins leaders.  Wakefield sits now nine wins away from Clemens and Young and a mere three wins away from 200 career wins.  As Matsuzaka is done for the year, there is no reason to take Wakefield out of the rotation, as he has been quite effective to this point.  This next week sees Boston play three games at Fenway as the San Diego Padres come to town, and three against the surprisingly decent Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh.

As a side note, from now on each highlighted player in one of my articles or recaps will take you to that player’s statistical page for your reference.  I will do the same for teams when highlighted as well so you may view the team in reference to the year I am describing.