Category: Boston Red Sox

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Boston Red Sox

Bonds to Boston? Unlikely


In another spectacular example of sportswriter logic (i.e. make up some bs) Murray Chass in the New York Times is speculating that since both the JD Drew and Barry Bonds contracts, even though agreed to in terms, have not been signed, that Barry Bonds could end up in Boston. (We would like to speculate that since the Raiders have a head coaching vacancy and Rich Kotite used to be a head coach, that the Raiders might hire Kotite.)

OK, the Giants are definitely trying to backpedal on the Bonds deal because of the recent amphetamines news and the Red Sox are worried about Drew’s shoulder but putting Bonds in there doesn’t make any sense. First, do the Red Sox really need Barry Bonds? He just becomes a huge distraction. If the Giants are worried about his affect on the club house even in the only city where he is loved liked tolerated, what is going to happen in Beantown. Second, this is also the guy who called the entire city of Boston racist.


Boston is too racist for me. I couldn’t play there. That’s been going on ever since my dad (Bobby) was playing baseball. I can’t play like that. That’s not for me, brother.

We’d actually like to see Bonds in Boston. That would make those Red Sox trips to NYC even better. Although the east coast biased media coverage would be completely out of control.

Links:
[NY Times]: Unsigned Bonds Awaits Further Review

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Boston Red Sox

Jan 5 in Sports History: Ruth sold to the Yankees


In 1920 This was the day that the Boston Red Sox and their fans were given an 86-year excuse for losing pennants and World Series’ in unbelievable fashion. Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold George Herman Ruth to the New York Yankees for $125,000 in cash. Some believe it was so Frazee could finance a Broadway play called “No No Nanette,” others believe it was because The Babe had become absolutely insufferable as a superstar for the Red Sox, and the huge amount of money at that time was too good to pass up (Frazee had intended to buy other players with the money, not finance the play, but was entangled with legal problems with the American League). Either way, the fortunes of two franchises completely reversed. Boston, which had won four titles in eight years, did not win for another 86, The Yankees, meanwhile, won 26 during that time.

In 1927: Public hearings began on the most forgotten scandal in sports history. Baseball hall of famers Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker, two of the greatest players of all time, were implicated in an alleged fixing of a game in 1919. Former Tigers’ pitcher Dutch Leonard made accusations that Speaker and Cobb, along with “Smokey” Joe Wood (another hall of fame pitcher), wrote letters to him that Cobb and Speaker planned to throw a Tigers-Athletics game at the end of the 1919 season. At first, Cobb and Wood admitted to the letters (Speaker denied everything) but claimed it was a horse racing bet and that Leonard was angry that Cobb (who was also a manager by then) had sent him to the minor leagues. Cobb and Speaker were to privately resign their managerial posts and accept a lifetime ban. In the end, however, Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis cleared all players because Leonard was unable to convince him (or the public) that the players actually threw the game.

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Boston Red Sox

Is Daisuke Matsuzaka worth $103M?


Well folks, it’s official. Matsuzaka and his puffy furry coat have signed with the Red Sox for $52M for six years. Add that in to the $51M they paid the Seibu Lions for his rights and you have a whopping $103M contract for 6 years or over $17M per. While it’s a pretty big number, it’s still doesn’t break A-Rod’s per year deal.

CBS4 in Boston is also reporting that two 17-year-old girls greeted Matsuzaka with a sign that said “WELCOME HOME DAISUKE”. Let’s just hope this wasn’t like the recruiting trip that Jesus Shuttlesworth took when he visited Rick Fox.

Check out the links below for reaction from around the blogosphere. Oh by the way, “Dice-K” seems to be the nickname of choice.

Links:
[CBS4 Boston]: Daisuke Matsuzaka Officially Signs With Red Sox

[Red Sox Talk]: Matsuzaka deal finally inked
[Baseballistic]: Matsuzaka’s Deal is a Win-Win-Win-Win
[Boston Sports Media Watch]: Sox Get It Done
[Call of the Green Monster]: After Losing Battle on Matsuzaka Contract, Boras Plans to Stop Christmas from Coming
[Red Sox Times]: Good Things Come…

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Boston Red Sox

Red Sox pay $51M for rights to Daisuke Matsuzaka

The Red Sox spent 6 Billion Yen just to be able to negotiate a contract with Matsuzaka. Losing bids were not revealed but it is rumored that the Mets had the second highest offer of $38M and the Yankees bid about $32M.

Boston has until December 15th to negotiate with Matsuzaka’s agent Scott Boras. (Is there any question that he’ll just be known at “Matty” in Beantown? Or they might just call him Sully for the hell of it.) There is speculation that the asking price might be as high as $16M a year for three years. Factor in the $51M and you’re talking about $99M for 3 years or $33M per. If they cannot reach an agreement, the Red Sox keep the $51M and Matsuzaka goes back to the Seibu Lions and will be on the block again next year.

Here’s one reason the $51M might be worth it — the gyroball.

Links:
[Boston.com]: For $51m, Sox get go-ahead on Matsuzaka
[Sawxblog]: $51 Reasons the Red Sox will benefit from Daisuke Matsuzaka
[The Hardball Times]: When Will Daisuke Matsuzaka’s Arm Fall Off?

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Boston Red Sox

Oct 25 in Sports History: Bill Buckner Day!


In 1986: Until 2004, the 20 most hated words in Red Sox Nation: “Little roller up along first
behind the bag! It gets through Buckner! Here comes Knight and the Mets win it!” Buckner was universally blamed for the Red Sox 6-5 defeat in Game 6 of the World Series, but it was a rickety bullpen, two other Red Sox errors, a wild pitch which scored the tying run and horrible managing by John McNamara that led to their demise. The Sox blew leads of 2-0, 3-2 and 5-3 before the Mets won what is probably the most famous World Series game in history. Boston also blew a three run lead in Game 7, as the Mets won their second World Series.

In 1964: In one of our favorite NFL Films clips ever, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall picked up a San Francisco fumble and rumbled 66 yards to the end zone for the score. Problem was, he ran the wrong way. Marshall is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, played 20 seasons without missing a game as an anchor of the famed “Purple People Eaters,” all the while being an average of 20 to 30 pounds smaller than his opponents. But he will mostly be remembered for taking the longest safety in NFL history. As he threw the ball into the stands after he crossed what turned out to be his own goal line, some 49ers players came up and tapped him on the helmet to say thanks. The Vikings did win the game, however, 27-22.

In 1998: Even though – much like Mike Ditka – we don’t recognize kickers as real football players, Jason Elam of the Denver Broncos tied Rick Dempsey’s record by booting a 63-yard field goal in a 37-24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mile High Stadium. Only five times in history (including this past Sunday) has a kicker converted a field goal attempt of 60 yards or more.

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Boston Red Sox

Sep 28 in Sports History: Ted Williams is the last person to hit .400

In 1941: Ignoring his manager’s suggestion that he sit to preserve a .400 average, Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox decided to play both games of a doubleheader in Philadelphia on the final day of the season. Williams went for 6 for 8 in the two games, and finished the season with a .406 mark, the last player to hit .400 in the major leagues.

and in 1960: In the final at-bat of his career, Williams hit his 521st career homer, a towering, 450-foot drive to the right-centerfield seats at Fenway Park. (baseballlibrary.com)

In 1951: In the opening Friday night game of the season, Norm Van Brocklin of the Los Angeles Rams threw for a record 554 yards in a 54-14 win over the New York Yankees. The record still stands today (Warren Moon  is second with 527 yards in a game). Van Brocklin –subbing for the injured starter– was 27 of 42 with five touchdowns and three interceptions. The Rams also boasted three 100-plus yard receivers, including hall-of-famer Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch (who caught four TD‘s). Van Brocklin later led the Rams to the 1951 NFL title. (The 2006 ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia)

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Boston Red Sox

Red Sox 2004 World Series ring on ebay

For the die-hard Sox fan, you can have your very own 2004 World Series championship ring. A former employee of the Boston Red Sox front office is selling his ring on ebay. The starting bid is $100,000 and the Buy It Now price is $500k. That’s a hell of a bonus for a front office employee. We’re guessing it’s not being sold by one of the head honchos who make millions a year.

The seller says that he is not a big Red Sox fan and he’d rather have the money to pay off some student loans and set up a college fund for his kids.

Many will be angered to hear someone is selling off a piece of the Red Sox history and I do not wish to hear from the thousands of fans who think I am doing something wrong, when I am simply doing the right thing by my family.

We gotta say that this sounds a lot more reasonable than the guy who will pony up six figures for a ring valued at around $16k. Unless you’re Stephen King and you got money to burn.

As of press time, there are no bids and the auction ends on Friday.

Links:
[Boston Herald]: Do I hear $500G? Ex-Sox employee auctioning off Series ring

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Boston Red Sox

Odds and Ends (07.07.06): Manny Ramirez called owners "White Devils"

From the new book by Seth Mnookin called Feeding the Monster, comes this little nugget:


stat analyst Bill James did a study in the 2003 season in which Rami rez was cited for half of the 60 instances in which Sox players did not hustle, and this spring, after the Sox did not trade him yet again after he’d asked to be dealt, Rami rez directed a rant at the owners in which he referred to them as “[expletive] white devils.

Man, that’s just Manny being Manny racist. (Story via Drunken Bleachers Blog)

In other news…

[Cincinnati Enquirer]: Shackelford out of jail, in minors

[NY Daily News]: Isiah’s already eyeing playoffs

[SI.com]: Minor-leaguer killed just after release

[USA Today]: Damn, even punters are cheating

[Seattle Times]: Bland ESPN has lost its way

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Boston Red Sox

12 year old kid heckles the Red Sox

You know what’s great about Boston? They teach their kids at a young age how to be as much of a masshole as possible. According to Terry Francona, the kid who yelled something at Keith Foulke is the same 12 year old who has been yelling at him for 2 years.


That guy yelling at Foulke is the same one who’s been yelling at me for two years. He said something inappropriate.
…
Where’s Timlin, you dumb-ass?. He’s 12. If I had been his dad, I’d have smacked the $#^@ out of him.

Sure he’s 12 but he’s got the heckling skills of at least a 16 year old.

A note on the kid pictured here. He is the most photoshopped fan on the planet. He’s been giving the finger as a Steelers fan, a Browns fan, a Yankees fan, a Red Sox fan… the list goes on and on. Who is this Golden Child of Anger?

Links:
[Boston Herald]: Foulke holds back

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Boston Red Sox

Odds and Ends for Thu May 25 2006: Schilling is a charitable blowhard

Does it surprise anyone that Curt Schilling loves Curt Schilling? He had a video game character created in his likeness for EverQuest II. You know, the video game where dorks play for days at a time and some get so obsessed that they kill themselves after playing it. The only upside to this story is that everytime someone beats the Curt Schilling character (named Major Asshole Curt Schilling), Sony will donate $5 (up to $10,000… quite an underwhelming figure, actually) to the ALS Association. Next up, Schilling will digitally replace John Malkovich with himself in Being John Malkovich. (via Deadspin)

In other news…

[CBS Sportsline]: Ruben Droughs might run into Jake Plummer in court.

[SF Gate]: Fans in SF think baseball tickets are lottery tickets

[Royales With Cheese]: Fixing the Royals attendance problems

[Inside Bay Area]: Oakland A’s owner searching for a place in San Jose to build a soccer stadium. How about this place?