Pedro Plunked 'Em...on Purpose!

 

Simply put, there are certain Major Leaguers that if you put a microphone in front of them...I will listen.

Monday, former pitching great Pedro Martinez, the Boston Red Sox newly minted special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington, was front and center answering reporter's questions. 

And, suffice it to say, I would have loved to have been there to listen because,according to Peter Abraham from the Boston Globe, there were some gems.  Especially when the subject of teaching young pitchers the value of being able to pitch inside was brought up.


"I  think it's all part of the game. You have to pitch inside and you have to brush them back when you have to," the three-time Cy Young Award winner said.  "I will preach it and I will say they need to pitch inside if they want to have success."

But the best part, Martinez added that "90 percent" of the batters he plunked...he did it on purpose.  Retaliation for his teammates he maintains.

Oh, and about that 2003 incident with Karim Garcia of the New York Yankees?  Martinez claims that wasn't on purpose.

"It didn't even hit him, it hit the bat," Martinez added.  "Lucky bastard."

 Suuuuuuure.
 

Outfielder Happy to be in Boston

The Boston Red Sox continued their re-building efforts Tuesday by inking outfielder Shane Victorino to a contract worth $39 million. 

And suffice it to say...the 32-year-old was excited.  

“It’s great, an opportunity for me to go to an organization and a team that has had success and have won World Series in recent years," Victorino told the Maui News.  "The last two years have been rough for them coming off so many successful years, but I think it is an opportunity for me to go out there, have fun, enjoy playing in front of a great fan base and, you know, I’m so excited for the opportunity.”

Oh...and just hours after signing a deal with Boston, the "Flyin' Hawaiian" was tweeting pictures of him and his family celebrating in BoSox gear. 

That's excitement!

 

Report: Red Sox Sign Mike Napoli

As if news of Alex Rodriguez's hip surgery isn't leaving New York Yankees fans a little sour Monday morning, reports are that the Boston Red Sox have inked Mike Napoli to a three-year deal.

Sure, the slugger was a touch sluggish this past season with the Texas Rangers...only hitting .227 while belting 24 home runs (down from .320 and 30 in 2011), but a change of scenery will probably do him well.

In 74 career plate appearances at Fenway Park, the 31-year-old is 19-for-62 with seven homers.  Not too shabby.

The big question...where is the guy going to play?

"I just want to play," Napoli recently told ESPNDallas.com. "I feel the most comfortable behind the plate because that's where most of my reps have been. Do I think I can be good at first base if I had reps and practiced it all the time? Yes. But it's not like I'm saying I have to be a catcher. I just want to be in the lineup and play. If it helps at catcher, I'll catch, or at first base, I'll play there. But I like catching. I look at myself as catcher."

 That said, WEEI's Rob Bradford is on record saying Napoli will the club's "primary first base option".

Hot stove!

Red Sox Spoof Christmas Vacation

In an effort to, no doubt, remove the bitter taste of 2012 from the collective mouth of Red Sox nation...the team has released a humorous nod to the 1989 holiday classic "Christmas Vacation".

Although it does appear to be more than Clark Griswold's 250 strands of light. 

I guess it's a good thing they got David Ortiz under contract early.

Red Sox Eyeing Japanese Phenom

In 2007, the Boston Red Sox were hoping to catch lightning in a bottle when they paid more than $50 million just to talk to Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Now...six full. less than stellar seasons later, the Japanese-born hurler has, seemingly, pitched his last game in BeanTown.

But, according to reports out of Boston, they're trying, again, to cash in overseas. 

A major league source confirmed multiple reports out of Japan that the Red Sox (who were represented by international scouting director Eddie Romero and Pacific Rim coordinator Jon Deeble) met with Japanese high school phenom Shohei Otani on Thursday. Otani has met with all 12 teams in the NPB and with at least a few major league teams while trying to decide whether to pursue pro ball in Japan or the US. The 18-year-old right-hander has been clocked at 100 mph.

WEEI also reports that the 6'4" righty has had meetings with representatives from the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers. 

 

Big Papi's Unlikely Streak Comes to an End

Lost in the drama surrounding the Boston Red Sox's worst record since 1933 and manager Bobby Valentine's inability to lead the team, is that one of baseball's most unlikely streaks will come to an end Wednesday.

Sure, David Ortiz has appeared in only a handful of games since the All-Star Break (an injury has had him on the shelf most of the second half), but with the Red Sox playing in their final game of the season Wednesday night, the slugger's streak of 12 consecutive years with at least one triple is officially coming to an end.

And be honest, had you been asked who the only two Major Leaguers are with at least one triple each season since 2000 are...would you have ever come up with the words "David Ortiz"? 

Oh, and the other...none other than the designated hitter's former teammate Johnny Damon.

To put things in perspective, "Big Papi" has 16 triples. Career triples leader, Hall of Famer Sam Crawford has 309 and 12 times over his 19 year career, he had 16 or more.

Red Sox Plan to Fire Bobby Valentine

File this one under "not a shock to anyone", but, according to the entire free world...the Boston Red Sox are planning on relieving Bobby Valentine of his duties as soon as the season comes to a close.

This, of course, comes after the manager led the Sox to their worst record since Franklin Roosevelt was in office. 

And, true to form, Valentine looks to be leaving BeanTown with guns blazing, saying in an interview before Wednesday night's finale against the New York Yankees that his coaches weren't loyal to him throughout the season.

Asked why, Valentine said, "You asked me what I feel. That's what I feel."

Valentine was then asked by WEEI's Glenn Ordway if he felt he was undermined by his staff, to which he responded "Yes." Asked why, Valentine again said, "[It's] just what I feel."

Something tells me Red Sox fans would just like to hit the reset button on 2012 and take a Mulligan.

Naturally, Theo's Stalker is a Red Sox Fan

Last week, news broke that Chicago Cubs president (and former Boston Red Sox GM) Theo Epstein has a stalker.

And because it's been that kind of year for the Sox, when Kathleen Kearney appeared in court Monday, she was wearing, up...a Red Sox shirt.

In case you're curious, there are some new developments in the story. 

According to the Chicago Tribune, this most recent incident with Epstein and his family wasn't the first.  The 44-year-old Harvard-educated former librarian had been warned to stay away from Epstein while he was still in Boston.

Oh, and in case you're still more curious(er), Kearney was released on bond with the understanding she checks herself in to a mental hospital.

***Thanks Deadspin.***

Kelly Shoppach Needs Your Help!

Let's say you're a big leaguer and you're saddled with what to name your pet hedgehog...what do you do?

Well, if you're Kelly Shoppach, you take to Twitter!

That's right.  On Thursday, the Boston Red Sox catcher enlisted his 17,000-plus followers to help him name his latest family friend.

Unfortunately, the only two responses he got were "Sonic" and 'Starbuck".  I get the one reference...not sure about the other.

Thoughts?

Youk's Brother Rips Boston

With a standing ovation and a tip of the cap, fan favorite Kevin Youkilis exited the field Sunday for the last time as a member of the Boston Red Sox.

According to numerous reports, the third baseman has been dealt to the Chicago White Sox.  In return for the career .286 hitter, Boston will add righty Zach Stewart and utility player Brent Lillibridge.

And while trading Youkilis had been talked about for a while, all signs seemed to be pointing toward the 33-year-old ending up in Chicago courtesy of his brother Scott hitting the Twitters Sunday afternoon and lashing out at BeanTown.

Yipes.

Fenway Park Sells Out. Again and Again

It's a term no fan wants to be called...a "sellout".  But something tells me that after Sunday's game (a 4-3 loss against the Washington Nationals), Boston Red Sox fans might be okay with it.

For now.

Fenway Park sold out its 745th consecutive game Sunday, the most consecutive sellouts in North American major pro sports history...as the minor league Dayton Dragons are closing in on 900 straight.

So who did the Red Sox pass?  The Portland Trailblazers...who once sold out 744 straight home contests.

The first sellout of the historic streak was May 15, 2003, when the BoSox beat up the Texas Rangers 12-3.  In 2008, Boston broke the Major League record by selling out its 456th consecutive game.

And in case you were wondering...the average paid attendance during the sellout streak has been 36,544.

For more fun Fenway Facts...why not click HERE.

Kevin Youkilis Joins "The Brady Bundch(en)"

You hear stories all the time about the measures baseball players go to in order to break a slump...but marriage?

Maybe.

This past Thursday, Boston Red Sox star Kevin Youkilis married his fiancee Julie "sister of Tom Brady" Brady at their home.

Now, I'm sure the wedding has nothing to do with Youkilis' recent struggles at the plate and has more to do with the Red Sox having an off day...but it sure is fun to speculate, right?

The "Greek God of Walks" is hitting .174 so far this season and last week, was in the crosshairs of skipper Bobby Valentine.  But, at least now we know why dude was, according to Valentine, not "physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason".

He was planning a wedding, man.  C'mon!

Oh, and because everyone will mention it...yes, Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen were on hand to toast the new bride and groom.

Youk's new manager in BeanTown was absent.

Ten Things About Fenway Park

When the Boston Red Sox play host to the New York Yankees Friday, it will mark the 100th anniversary of the team’s historic stadium.  You see, Fenway Park opened its doors April 20, 1912 against (coincidentally) the New York Highlanders and beat the soon-to-be-renamed Yankees 7-6 in eleven innings.

Here are ten things you might not have known about the historic park located at 4 Yawkey Way.

$650,000

In 1911, then-team owner John Taylor broke ground on the piece of land that ended up being home to Fenway Park.  $650,000 and a year later…the stadium was complete.  And in case you’re wondering, that’s a mere $15.7 million by today’s standards.  By comparison, the New York Yankees just spent close to $1.5 billion for their new home.

99,000

Without a doubt, Fenway Park is regarded as a hitters’ park…but it’s not for the reasons you might think.  Never mind the short porch in rightfield, it’s the league-small 99,000 square feet of foul territory that helps (according to George Will) add “five to seven points to batting averages”.

47,627

When Fenway Park opened 100 years ago, it could hold 35,000 fans.  Today, a capacity crowd is 37,493.  During a September 22, 1935 doubleheader against the New York Yankees, the team managed to shoehorn 47,627 people into the bandbox.

1822

Of the 28 hitters with more than 3000 career hits, only a handful ever suited up for the Boston Red Sox.  And of those hitters, it’s Carl Yastrzemski that is tops when it comes to hits at Fenway Park.  The 1989 Hall of Fame inductee collected an amazing 1822 regular season base hits at the stadium.

719

In 2008, the Boston Red Sox broke a Major League record by selling out its 456th consecutive game.  Assuming Friday’s game against the rival New York Yankees is a sellout, it will be the 720th consecutive sellout for the team…dating back to May 15, 2003, a 12-3 victory over the Texas Rangers.

502

As the story goes, on June 9, 1946, Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams hit a 502 foot home run that crashed through the straw hat of a New York Yankees fan.  In case you’re curious how far that home run traveled, head to Fenway Park and look for Section 42, Row 37, Seat 21…it’ll be the lone red seat among a sea of green bleacher seats.  The original seat is is the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

47

As a shock to no one, the 2005 movie “Fever Pitch” didn’t bring home a single Academy Award nomination.  On the other hand, John Williams has been nominated for 47.  What does the legendary composer have to do with the Boston Red Sox?  Dude composed the official theme for the 100th Anniversary of Fenway Park.  Yup…there is such a thing.

37.167

Everyone knows the Green Monster in leftfield is just a hair more than 37-feet high, right?  But, does everyone know that it didn’t start at that height?  From 1912 to 1933, the then wooden wall was 25-feet high and featured a 10-foot high incline in front of it.  Why?  Something had to support the thing and, naturally, a mass of dirt would be the likely candidate.

3

At the base of the Green Monster is Fenway Park’s legendary hand operated scoreboard.  Since it has to be seen from hundreds of feet away, the numbers are definitely a little bigger than one might suspect.  But just how big?  The runs and hits tiles are 16 inches by 16 inches and weigh three pounds apiece.

0

From World Series celebrations to NHL hockey games.  Legendary rock concerts to championship boxing matches…Fenway Park has been the home of plenty of memorable moments.  That said, the 100 year old stadium has never seen a perfect game.  The closest it came was in 1917.  Babe Ruth started the game and walked the leadoff hitter.  Ruth argued the call and was tossed out of the game.  Ernie Shore came in in relief and after that initial batter was thrown out trying to steal second…retired the next 26 batters he faced.

Lastly, and this isn't as much a fun fact as a "look below", did you know that the purchase of the land Fenway Park sits on was recently the subject of a stage play?  Look below!

Report: Ortíz No es Padre de Muchacho

How do you know people are dying for the baseball season to begin...this is making news.

The Boston Herald is reporting that Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is not the father of, well...just read.

According to a report in the Dominican newspaper Hoy by veteran baseball reporter Dionisio Soldevila, a DNA test showed that David Ortiz was not the father of a 17-year-old in the Dominican Republic. Ortiz was the subject of a paternity claim by a woman whom Ortiz said he had never met.

The DNA tests showed there was a 0.0 percent chance that Ortiz was the father.

In the article, Ortiz expressed his belief that it was unfair authorities in the Dominican Republic did not investigate the case before asking him to take the DNA test. Ortiz also criticized the media for writing that Ortiz did not want to take responsibility when he had never met the woman.

So, "Big Papi"...you are NOT the pappy!  Cue Povich.

Ten Things About Tim Wakefield

When Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield announced his retirement Friday it marked the end of an era.

For 19 seasons, we've watched his knuckleball flutter and baffle opponents to the tune of 200 career victories.  And, sure, it took a slew of starts this past season to get to that mark, but when he did...the 45-year-old became just the seventh knuckleballer (Phil Niekro, Ted Lyons, Joe Niekro, Charlie Hough, Jesse Haines and Eddie Cicotte were the others) to do it.
Here are ten more things about Tim Wakefield that you might not have known.

2010
After being up for the Roberto Clemente Award seven times, Wakefield finally took home the award on his eighth and final nomination in 2010.

186
Of dude's 200 wins, 186 of them came with the Red Sox...placing him third all-time with the club.  Ahead of the knuckleballer, pitching immortals Cy Young and Roger Clemens with 192 apiece.

186
Over the course of his 19-year big league career, Wakefield plunked 186 batters...ranking him seventh all-time.  Twice (in 1997 and 2001), he led the league in hit batsmen.

146
In Tim Wakefield's Major League debut, he threw 146 pitches.  While a high pitch count isn't that out of character for a knuckleballer, his pitching line was.  The rookie threw a complete game shutout...striking out ten St. louis Cardinals in the process.

.117
Even though the right handed pitcher was a record breaking hitter while in college for the Florida Tech Panthers (more on that later), Wakefield only managed at .117 career batting average.  In 1993, he hit his only big league home run when he took Houston Astros righty (and eventual Red Sox teammate) Mark Portugal deep.

97
Of all the pitchers that have taken to the mound at Fenway Park since it opened, only seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens (100) has more victories at the century old stadium than Wakefield's 97.

44 years, 282 days
When the knuckleballer relieved John Lackey on May 11, 2011, he became, at 44 years, 282 days...the oldest player to ever appear for the Red Sox.

40
In 1987, then-first baseman Tim Wakefield set a Florida Tech record with 22 home runs and 71 RBI.  Over his career, the one-time Panther hit a school-high 40 dingers.

15
On August 10, 1999...Wakefield struck out four Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning to become just the fifteenth American League pitcher to accomplish the task.  Incidentally, then-Anaheim Angels pitcher Chuck Finley accomplished the feat twice in the same season.

2
Possibly more important than any of these other numbers...Wakefield is a two-time World Champion.  The veteran was a member of both the 2004 and 2007 Boston Red Sox teams.

Tim Wakefield Set to Retire

Are you sitting down, America?

According to The Boston Globe...Tim Wakefield is calling it quits after 19 seasons in the bigs.  The 45-year-old knuckleballer ends his career 200-180 with a 4.41 ERA. 

After 17 years with the Boston Red Sox, Wakefield sits third in team history for victories (186), trailing only Cy Young and Roger Clemens, who each had 192.  He is also second in wins at Fenway Park with 97 trailing Clemens, again, who has 100.

This past season, Wakefield was 7-8 with a 5.12 ERA in 33 games 23 of them starts.  Along the way, he joined Hall of Famer Walter Johnson as the only two pitchers in American League history with at least four wins and 125 or more innings in 17 consecutive seasons.

Fenway Park: The Stage Play?

If you're like me, you've always wondered how the thrilling purchase of Fenway Park came about.

Not really.

But, thankfully, through the magic of the internets, you can watch the re-telling of how the century old park came to be...as a stage play.

That's right, drama zealots, you read that correctly!

"The plot, John, is crudely shapened.  I admit, there are uses for it...but a baseball diamond on that bog?  You expect your players to field balls in a marsh?!?"

"We will find a way to play ball on that plot!"

And find a way they did.  Riveting.  Really.

I suppose anything is better than the Morris Buttermaker act the Boston Red Sox pulled in the last month of the 2011 season, right?

Nomar Garciaparra is Skeptical

Remember the Sports Illustrated piece where Carl Everett dispelled the notion that dinosaurs existed?

"No one ever saw a Tyrannosaurus Rex" the then-Boston Red Sox outfielder told SI's Tom Verducci. 

And the bones?  "Made by man" he said.

Well, as it turns out...Everett isn't the only member of the 2000 Red Sox that can be classified (politely) as "skeptical".

Enter Nomar Garciaparra.

Apparently the All-Star shortstop was sitting in the clubhouse with writer Doug Bailey following the 2003 space shuttle Columbia disaster and decided to go all "Capricorn One" on some visiting astronauts.

Nomar curiously watched my interaction with the two women, who were dressed in their bright-blue flight suits, and finally nudged me and asked who they were. I explained that they were astronauts. “Hey,” Nomar replied, “I saw this show on Fox that said we never really went to the moon. The whole thing was faked. Can I talk to her about that?”

“Sure,” I said, eager to witness this conversation.

Coleman diplomatically handled the inquiry from Nomar. “I’ve heard about that,” she said, “but it would have to be an enormous conspiracy.”

“Did you see the show?” he quickly rejoined. “It was really convincing…. I don’t know.”

So, wait...Garciaparra thinks that the moon landing was faked?  What's next...is someone going to suggest that Curt Schilling's bloody sock wasn't legit?

Is Bill Buckner Headed Back to Boston?

More intriguing than the lack of creativity behind the numerous headlines proclaiming Thursday "Valentine's Day" is the possibility Bobby Valentine is open to bringing Bill Buckner in as his hitting coach.

"I respect his every opinion, in baseball and worldy matters," the new Boston skipper said of the former Red Sox first baseman.

But if Valentine and Buckner happen to be paired up in the Red Sox dugout, it won't be the first time they've occupied the same space.  The two were college roomates and fraternity brothers while at the University of Southern California as well as teammates in the Dominican Republic and with the Ogden Dodgers in 1968.

Of course, Valentine also told reporters at Thursday's press conference that if he hired Buckner, it wouldn't be about their nearly lifelong friendship...it would be about "who's best for the job".

And qualified Buckner is.

In his 22-year big league career, the mustached one collected 2715 hits, a .289 batting average and never struck out more than 39 times in a season.

Oh, he's also the current manager of the Brockton Rox of the Cam-Am League.

And like that...an entire post about Bill Buckner without once mentioning the 1986 World Series.

Shit.

Facebook Group Backs Luis Tiant

There are Facebook groups out there for just about anything.

Some make perfect sense.

Some don't make any sense at all.

For Everett Bridgeford of Somers Point, New Jersey, there was only one group that seemed right…“Let's Get Luis Tiant into the Hall of Fame Now!”.

And with the Veterans Committee announcing their "Golden Era" Hall of Fame selection soon...there seemed to be no better time to tell Bridgeford's story.

HOVG: What made you start your grassroots effort to get “El Tiante” enshrined in Cooperstown?

BRIDGEFORD: I was arguing with a friend of mine who is a Yankee fan that knows everything about Tiant’s legacy. He told me I was nuts. I was up late one night and I sent (Angels broadcaster) Victor Rojas a message on Facebook asking him if he thought I was crazy too. He said I was right and if I believed in it then I should pursue it. I then went to (former Red Sox pitcher) Dick Drago, who was also on Facebook, and he quickly said that Luis Tiant is the best person he has ever met and I should definitely try to get him in. So I started a page and began inviting as many people as I could find in Boston.

HOVG: How did your love affair with BeanTown start?

BRIDGEFORD: I have been a Sox fan for as long as I can remember. Being 34, I was too young for the good days and had a long wait for 2004, but I was always a student of those teams in the 70s. I would use my Yaz swing and my Tiant windup in little league and Wiffle Ball and could never understand why none of my other friends in South Jersey didn't love the Sox as much as I did.

HOVG: And this carried over to the Hall of Fame too, right?

BRIDGEFORD: Right. I would wait every year for the Hall of Fame ceremonies, so I could see Ted Williams come up on stage. I successfully begged my parents to drive the eight hours to Cooperstown so I could see Yaz get inducted. And then I waited and waited. Why wasn't Tiant getting in? Why weren't Rice and Evans getting in? It was driving me nuts. I was a kid, these were my idols and I still couldn't understand why no one else got it. I watched the children of .260 hitters from 50 years ago accept awards for their fathers and it caused me to lose faith in the Hall of Fame.

HOVG: All in all, what’s your goal?

BRIDGEFORD: My goal is to continue adding mew members through all means possible…the website, Facebook, word of mouth, TV and radio. This is truly grassroots. I have done this so far at no cost and have not earned a single cent from my efforts. I know we can do this based on the huge numbers of people that believe in this man getting in the Hall. The end game will consist of an all out marketing assault on the Hall's Veteran's Committee and getting that 75% from letters, phone calls, interviews and statistics that stand up to anyone.

HOVG: What would it mean to you for “El Tiante” to get the call from the Hall?

BRIDGEFORD: What would it mean for me? Wow, for one, I think it will be the greatest thing ever to see him on stage with a huge smile and cigar with thousands of fans chanting “LOU–EEE LOU-EEE”! I have never had this much passion in my life for anything and I believe it will happen. Ask anyone that knows me…I am not like that. But something is making me do this and it continues to grow. I do know that the coolest thing will be able to sit back and say that I changed things for the better and mean it. I could not believe that no one had tried this before and now it seems like a done deal and we are just waiting for the ceremony. There is a lot of work left and no shortage of people or ideas. I love waking up in the morning knowing that this will happen.

If you’re interested in helping Bridgeford get his message out about getting Luis Tiant in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, check out his Facebook group, join and then…invite your friends.

If you'd like to read this entire interview (yes, yes...this was originally posted in April 2010), click HERE!