The Red Sox overcame a 5-1 deficit to beat the defending World Series champion Yankees, 9-7, in Major League Baseball's season opener Sunday night. Kevin Youkilis doubled twice and tripled for Boston.
Former American League MVP Nomar Garciaparra retired as a member of the Boston Red Sox Wednesday. The six-time All-Star signed a one-day contract with his former team and then announced he's ending his 14-year career.
The Angels score three times with two outs in the ninth to pull out a 7-6 victory and complete a three-game sweep of the Red Sox in the AL Division Series.
The Angels pitching continued to dominate the Red Sox in game 2 of their ALDS
Torii Hunter belted a long home run as the Angels beat the Red Sox, 5-0, in their playoff series opener Thursday. LA starter John Lackey gave up just four hits in the win. The Angels held Boston without an extra-base hit.
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
BOSTON -- Just call him Mr. November. Or better yet, refer to Dustin Pedroia as the Most Valuable Player of the American League.
The second baseman of the Boston Red Sox continued his rapid burst into the national spotlight on Tuesday, when he was recognized with that impressive honor.
Though most pundits expected the race for MVP to be agonizingly close, Pedroia won in comfortable fashion, outdistancing a solid field that included, among others, Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis, Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton and Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez.
Following a 2007 season in which Pedroia helped fuel the Red Sox to a World Series championship and won the American League Rookie of the Year Award, the right-handed hitting machine staged quite an encore.
Pedroia joins Cal Ripken Jr. and Ryan Howard as the only players to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in consecutive years.
Pedroia named AL MVP....
BOSTON (AP) — For the first time in more than a decade, the Boston Red Sox aren't increasing their ticket prices at Fenway Park for the 2009 season.
The team said Wednesday that it had increased prices in each of the last 14 years.
Prices range from $12 to $125 for tickets bought after Dec. 17. There is a discount for earlier purchases once tickets go on sale Dec. 13.
Fans with contracts for premium seats can keep their ticket prices the same if they agree to extend those contracts for one year.
The team plans to add about 350 seats at Fenway Park before next season.
The Red Sox said prices also would remain the same for tickets available to the public at spring training games.
Boston Red Sox hold line on ticket prices....
MLB.com
Manny Ramirez is going to the Dodgers.
The Red Sox, Dodgers and Pirates have agreed to a deal, according to sources, in which Ramirez will go to Los Angeles, outfielder Jason Bay will go from Pittsburgh to Boston and the Pirates will receive pitchers Brandon Moss and Craig Hansen from the Red Sox and third baseman Andy LaRoche and outfielder Bryan Morris from the Dodgers.
The Pirates have called a 5:30 p.m. ET press conference.
Ramirez traded to Dodgers in three-way deal....
By Marty Noble / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- The latest "Manny being Manny" episodes in Boston hardly increase the likelihood that the Mets' semi-vacant corner-outfield situation will be solved by a deal importing Manny Ramirez. Even if the Mets were armed with sufficient young talent to satisfy the Red Sox and acquire Ramirez -- even if they wanted to add to their payroll -- Ramirez's behavior might turn the Mets away.
"His bat would be a great addition," one Mets player said on Sunday. "He could help us win. And most of the time, If you're winning, nothing else really matters. But we've got something good going now. I'm not saying he'd screw it up, but you can't tell what he's going to do. ... He's not helping Boston right now."
Whether the Mets believe in such a better-safe-than-sorry manner remains an unknown. But the Mets appear to have neither the chips not the inclination to deal for Ramirez or any other high-profile corner outfielder.
"If there was a perfect fit out there, a guy who could help us now and next year who we didn't have to overpay for, we'd be pursuing it," one member of the Mets' hierarchy said over the weekend. "But there aren't any perfect fits, or even good fits."
Mets an unlikely destination for Manny....
by Ken Rosenthal
OK, so now Manny Ramirez says that he's willing to waive his no-trade clause to leave the Red Sox.
The plot thickens. Maybe a little. Maybe a lot.
Ramirez would be more attractive in a trade if he did not require a contact extension or the exercising of his two $20 million option years.
In fact, all he might want to waive his no-trade clause is the assurance that his new team would make him a free agent at the end of the season.
If that's the case, his new team would get an extremely motivated player without needing to worry about paying him $20 million per year after this season.
That team also would get two premium draft picks once Ramirez departed as a free agent, helping replenish the talent it lost in the trade.
The Red Sox, given their distaste for Ramirez, might even be willing to pay part of his remaining salary — approximately $7 million — to get the right players in return.
The problem is, Ramirez's reputation is so far gone, all that still might not be enough to get him moved.
The Mets and Phillies have contacted the Red Sox about a possible deal, major-league sources say, but the Mets deny serious interest in Ramirez and the Phillies are even more of a longshot.
The plot thickens. Maybe a little. Maybe a lot.
Ramirez would be more attractive in a trade if he did not require a contact extension or the exercising of his two $20 million option years.
In fact, all he might want to waive his no-trade clause is the assurance that his new team would make him a free agent at the end of the season.
If that's the case, his new team would get an extremely motivated player without needing to worry about paying him $20 million per year after this season.
That team also would get two premium draft picks once Ramirez departed as a free agent, helping replenish the talent it lost in the trade.
The Red Sox, given their distaste for Ramirez, might even be willing to pay part of his remaining salary — approximately $7 million — to get the right players in return.
The problem is, Ramirez's reputation is so far gone, all that still might not be enough to get him moved.
The Mets and Phillies have contacted the Red Sox about a possible deal, major-league sources say, but the Mets deny serious interest in Ramirez and the Phillies are even more of a longshot.
Manny clears way for trade, but to where?....
Red Sox mum on report about mailed threat targeting black, Latin players
0 comments Posted by Dstall at 12:16 PM
CBSSports.com wire reports
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona declined comment Monday on a report the team received a mailed threat targeting black and Latin players.
The Boston Herald, citing unidentified sources, reported the threat was believed to be postmarked in Memphis, Tenn., and that a suspect believed to be from Baltimore but living in the Memphis area was being sought. The newspaper said the team increased security for its three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
"I will not discuss that out of respect to everyone concerned," Francona said Monday night. "It's not something we can address."
No names of players were identified in the newspaper report.
Red Sox mum on report about mailed threat targeting black, Latin players....
Sporting News staff reports
Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez shoved team traveling secretary Jack McCormick to the ground Saturday in an argument over tickets, the Providence Journal reports.
Ramirez had asked McCormick for 16 tickets for Saturday night's Red Sox-Astros game, which is a high number for a day-of-game request, the Journal reports. When McCormick told Ramirez he might not be able to fulfill the request, Ramirez shouted, "Just do your job!"
An argument followed, and Ramirez pushed McCormick to the ground. Later the two met behind closed doors and Ramirez apologized. McCormick accepted the apology. Manager Terry Francona said Sunday, "Sometimes things happen, and when they do, we choose to handle them internally. I'm satisfied with how we handled this." No disciplinary action is planned.
Manny Ramirez shoves traveling secretary....
By Michael Silverman
Curt Schilling will not pitch this season and the illustrious 20-year career of the Red Sox [team stats] veteran quite possibly is over after he revealed this morning that he will undergo shoulder surgery on Monday.
Schilling, 41, said that he is leaving open the possibility of coming back as a hired gun late next season if his shoulder responds but that there is a decent chance that he will not be able to throw another pitch in the big leagues.
“I don’t want it to end this way but if it has to end this way, I’m OK with that,” said Schilling in his comments on WEEI-AM in his weekly interview this morning, which came days after the team said the pitcher had sustained a setback in his rehab.
Schilling to undergo season-ending surgery....
By Amalie Benjamin
The fallout from Thursday night's on-field brawl was far more than the scratches and abrasions that lined Coco Crisp's face. Around 5:15 p.m. yesterday, word came down that eight Red Sox and Rays players had been suspended by Major League Baseball disciplinarian Bob Watson for a total of 38 games, the longest bans going to the primary participants, Crisp and Tampa Bay pitcher James Shields.
Crisp received the most severe punishment, a seven-game suspension, with teammates Jon Lester (five) and Sean Casey (three) joining him. For the Rays, Shields got six games, Jonny Gomes and Edwin Jackson five, Carl Crawford four, and Akinori Iwamura three.
When asked about his suspension before last night's 8-0 loss to the Mariners, Crisp said, "I don't know nothing about it yet." But he appealed it and also said he wasn't surprised about the outcome, which included fines for each of the suspended players, saying, "Everybody gets suspended that charges the mound."
FULL ARTICLE....
By Tony Massarotti
If the Red Sox [team stats] are going to repeat as world champions this season and win their third title in five years, they may have to do it without David Ortiz [stats].
After injuring his left wrist during the Red Sox’ victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night, Ortiz learned yesterday he has tendon sheath damage that will keep him sidelined indefinitely. According to a source, Ortiz’ wrist will be immobilized for roughly the next month to determine whether the injury can heal on its own.
If it cannot, the Red Sox and Ortiz very well may face a harsh reality:
Season-ending surgery.
ARTICLE....
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- First, the Red Sox breathed a sigh of relief. Then on Friday they went through the procedure of placing unbeaten starter Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list -- retroactive to Wednesday -- with a mild strain of his right rotator cuff.
An MRI performed on Matsuzaka on Friday in Boston revealed no structural damage. The Red Sox are optimistic that Matsuzaka will be able to pitch right around the time he's eligible to come off the DL, which is June 12.
"There was no structural changes, which is really good news," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "The final diagnosis is a mild deltoid rotator cuff strain. The best way we can see to attack this is, we'll DL him, take the time down, strengthen, get him ready to pitch the rest of the season. That's kind of where we are."
STORY....
By JIMMY GOLEN, AP Sports Writer
BOSTON (AP)—Jon Lester has survived cancer and pitched a World Series clincher for the Boston Red Sox.
Now he can add a no-hitter to his already amazing list of accomplishments.
The 24-year-old lefty shut down Kansas City 7-0 Monday night for the first no-hitter in the majors since Red Sox rookie Clay Buchholz threw one last September.
It was Lester’s first major league complete game. And what a way to do it.
“You don’t feel tired in that situation. You’ve got so much adrenaline going,” he said. “I’m sure it will hit me in the morning.”
Lester (3-2) allowed just two baserunners, walking Billy Butler in the second inning and Esteban German to open the ninth; he also had an error when he threw away a pickoff attempt.
Lester struck out nine, fanning Alberto Callaspo to end the game before pumping both fists in the air.
STORY....
