by Scott Weighart on July 24, 2010
Today it suddenly struck me as odd that I’ve written for this site for a few months without yet commenting on where one might get the most out of buying baseball tickets. So now I will offer you a few reflections on my top three baseball experiences.
photo credit: Eric Kilby
It’s hard to beat Fenway Park for a great all-around baseball experience.
Given that I live about a 15-minute walk from Fenway Park, I’ll start close to home. I might be biased, but I’d have to say that Fenway is still hands down the best place to see a major league game. The lack of foul territory puts you incredibly close to the action, and the constant sellouts create a great atmosphere for every game. Read more... (374 words, 3 images, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)
by Scott Weighart on July 22, 2010
If the Boston Red Sox were a contestant on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, you’d have to say that they’re running out of lifelines.
photo credit: Eric Kilby
Josh Beckett will return to the mound for the Red Sox this weekend, but will it be too late to help the Sox make a run for the wild card?
Manager Terry Francona and GM Theo Epstein have done an admirable job of holding the team together with a variety of spare parts, and severa disabled players are on their way back. But will it be too late? Read more... (365 words, 3 images, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)
by Deborah on July 17, 2010
The 2nd half of the MLB season is just underway and one trend has become painfully evident – the division leaders and wannabe leaders are losing. Some of the losing in their divisions and some losing to teams they should be beating. Did the All-Star break put them off their games that much?
Rays lose to the Yankees, Red Sox lose to the Rangers, White Sox lose to the Twins, Tigers lose to the Indians, Braves lose to the Brewers, Mets lose to the Giants, Phillies lose to the Cubs, Rockies lose to the Reds, and Dodgers lose to the Cards. That’s a lot of losses to start the second half. The in division losses are of course the most damaging. Will this trend continue? Read more... (250 words, 2 images, estimated 1:00 mins reading time)
by Scott Weighart on July 15, 2010
The All-Star Break is over, and not a moment too soon for baseball fans who probably resorted to watching the Home Shopping Network yesterday.
With action resuming, I’m especially intrigued by the four-game Rangers-Red Sox matchup at Fenway this weekend. The Rangers are leading the AL West by 4 ½ games, but they also have lost four in a row. The arrival of Cliff Lee gave the team an emotional boost, but will he put up good numbers in Texas… or in Fenway on Saturday? We’ll see.
photo credit: Ken Curtis
The 2004 champs could prove to be chumps while hosting Texas this weekend. Read more... (359 words, 3 images, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)
by Ben Millikan on July 6, 2010
With only two days left for fans to cast their vote for the final players in each league to be named to their respective All-Star teams, the races are heating up.
Over in the American League, Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis just passed right fielder Nick Swisher of the rival Yankees for the leader in votes. However, unfortunately for Youkilis, the first baseman left Tuesday’s game with the Tampa Bays with what the team reported as pain in his right ankle. There wasn’t a specific moment during the game when Youkilis appeared to injure himself, but while preparing for his second at-bat, Youk stepped outside of the batter’s box gingerly before dropping to the ground where he was attended to by the team trainer. The extent of the injury is still unknown, but if it sounds like it’s anything remotely serious, Youkilis won’t participate in the All-Star game if he wins the fan vote. (By the way, if you are keeping score at home–Yankee Fan–that now makes 11 players on the Red Sox DL.) The other three players in the running are Paul Konerko, Delmon Young and Michael Young. Read more... (276 words, 3 images, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)
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Youkilis’ Unknown Injury May Keep Him Out Of Final Vote For All-Star Game
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by Scott Weighart on July 5, 2010
Despite myriad injuries, the Boston Red Sox survived their weekend series reasonably well, winning two out of three games against Baltimore. All well and good, but bear in mind that the Orioles have the worst record in the majors by a good five-game margin. Tonight they start a three-game series with the Tampa Rays, and it could prove to be an early tipping point for both clubs in the second-half race.
photo credit: TheBusyBrain
Could be a fateful three-game series between the Red Sox and the Rays at the Tropicana Dome this week. Read more... (437 words, 3 images, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)
by Scott Weighart on July 2, 2010
The Boston Red Sox are worried about getting to First Aid instead of first base these days.
photo credit: Eric Kilby
Another One Bites The Dust: Jason Varitek suffered a broken foot on Wednesday, giving the injury-riddled Red Sox yet another player on the disabled list.
There probably has been a team that has suffered more injuries than the BoSox this season, but none come to mind of late. I couldn’t believe it this morning when I read that catcher Jason Varitek broke his foot on Wednesday night—just one day after first-string catcher Victor Martinez went on the disabled list. Varitek will be out for six weeks, and the Sox will have to muddle along with journeymen Kevin Cash and Gustavo Molina until at least after the All-Stat Break. Read more... (395 words, 3 images, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)
by Scott Weighart on June 28, 2010
The Boston Red Sox went down in 1-2-3 order this weekend, but I’m not talking about failing to get to base safely.
Instead, I’m referring to the fact that the Sox suffered injuries to three key players on three consecutive days.
photo credit: Eric Kilby
Dustin Pedroia was just one of three key Red Sox players who suffered injuries in a costly series against the Giants last weekend.
On Friday, Dustin Pedroia suffered a fluke injury. He fouled a ball of the top of his foot, breaking a bone in the process. He is now on the 15-day disabled list, and it’s not clear whether he’ll be out longer than that or not. If it’s four to six weeks, it will be very costly to Boston. Read more... (378 words, 3 images, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)
by Scott Weighart on June 25, 2010
Watching the early innings of last night’s Red Sox-Rockies games, I initially planned on writing a post about Rockies starter Jason Hammel. Once dismissed as a marginal prospect by Tampa, Hammel came into last night’s game with a lower June ERA than Ubaldo Jiminez. He then threw three shutout innings, and I went to bed.
When I got up this morning, I saw a final score of 13-11 in favor of the Red Sox and realized that something had gone terribly awry for Hammel and the Rockies.
photo credit: Eric Kilby
Dustin Pedroia hit three balls into thin air at Coors Field last night. Read more... (410 words, 3 images, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)
by Scott Weighart on June 24, 2010
It won’t happen this month or this season in all likelihood.
As the season progresses, though, you have to wonder if every game brings the Boston Red Sox that much closer to a new closer.
photo credit: Waldo Jaquith
Jon Papelbon’s days are probably not numbered as Red Sox closer… but his weeks and months may be.
Last night Red Sox reliever Daniel Bard played his set-up role to perfection. With the Sox clinging to a 6-5 lead after surprisingly shellacking Rockies ace Ubaldo Jiminez, Bard came in with a runner aboard with two outs in the seventh. He stranded that man and pitched a perfect eighth inning before turning things over to closer Jon Papelbon. Read more... (378 words, 3 images, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)
