VA Sox Fan

I miss the Miller High Life commercials with the black bald guy. They were hilarious!

Grapefruit League Game 19: Yankees at Red Sox Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff March 22, 2012 10:22 AM Here are the lineups: RED SOX (9-7-2) Ellsbury CF Pedroia 2B Youkilis 3B Gonzalez 1B Ortiz DH Ross LF Sweeney RF Shoppach C Aviles SS Pitching: RHP Aaron Cook followed by RHP Ross Ohlendorf, LHP Jesse Carlson, RHP Scott Atchison, RHP Chris Carpenter. YANKEES (10-9) Gardner LF Granderson CF Jones RF Chavez 3B Ibanez DH Laird 1B Gil C Pena 2B Bernier SS Pitching: RHP David Phelps. Game time: 7:05 p.m. TV / Radio: NESN, ESPN, YES / WRKO Notes: The Sox have lost three straight. After tonight, they have 12 exhibition games left including a split-squad doubleheader on Saturday. ... Cook has thrown 5.1 scoreless innings in his two starts, both against the Orioles. The veteran sinkerballer probably doesn't have time to get ready for Opening Day but he is presenting himself as an option at some point. ... Phelps has thrown 7.2 innings without allowing an earned run. He did take the loss against the Red Sox on March 13 in Tampa when he allowed an unearned run. Phelps was 7-7, 2.99 in 23 starts in the minors last season.

What happened to your theory that any monkey can manage a baseball team?

That's ridiculous if that is why you think they signed him.

From the Globe: News update: RHP Carlos Silva was released today

For those of you down there: You're invited to a postgame party on Monday Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff March 17, 2012 11:00 AM FORT MYERS, Fla. — If you're in Fort Myers this Monday, come hang out at Shoeless Joe's with us after the game against the Twins. We'll talk some baseball and have a good time. Here are the details: Time: 5:30 p.m. Where: Shoeless Joe's at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 13051 Bell Tower Drive in Fort Myers. Who will be there: Peter Abraham and Nick Cafardo from the Globe. Also: There will be a free buffet, free shirts and other prizes including some great books. I can guarantee at least one free beer per blog reader if you come over and say hello. Hope to see you there.

It's not going to happen.

Pitching plans for the next few days Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff March 17, 2012 09:41 AM FORT MYERS, Fla. — Here's how the pitching lines up for the next few days: Today vs. Baltimore: Beckett Sunday at Tampa Bay: Buchholz, Padilla Monday vs. Minnesota: Doubront, Melancon, Bailey (Aceves starts a minor league game) Tuesday vs. Toronto: Bard, Miller Wednesday at Pittsburgh: Lester, Tazawa, Carlson Thursday vs. Yankees: Cook, Ohlendorf (Beckett starts a minor league game) Also: Morales and Hill pitch live batting practice on Wednesday. Morales has yet to get in a game and, at the earliest, won't until late next week based on this schedule. You can count him out for Opening Day.

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Grapefruit League Games 12 and 13: Red Sox (ss) vs. Orioles (ss) Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff March 17, 2012 08:30 AM Happy St Patrick's Day. Here are the lineups for a busy day of baseball: GAME 12 Red Sox (ss) at Orioles (ss) RED SOX (7-4-1) Darnell O'McDonald CF Josh O'Kroeger RF Kevin O'Youkilis DH Adrian O'Gonzalez 1B Ryan O'Lavarnway C Pedro O'Ciriaco SS Nate O'Spears 2B Jason O'Repko LF Jon O'Hee 2B Pitching: RHP Aaron O'Cook, RHP Doug O'Mathis, RHP Will O'Inman, RHP Clayton O'Mortensen. Game time: 1:35 p.m. TV / Radio: None. GAME 13 Orioles (ss) at Red Sox (ss) RED SOX Jacoby O'Ellsbury CF Dustin O'Pedroia 2B David O'Ortiz DH Cody O'Ross LF Kelly O"Shoppach C Nick O'Punto 3B Mike O'Aviles SS Lars O'Anderson 1B Alex O'Hassan RF Pitching: RHP Josh O'Beckett, RHP Ross O'Ohlendorf, RHP Junichi O'Tazawa, RHP Michael O'Bowden, RHP Brandon O'Duckworth. Game time: 1:35 p.m. TV / Radio: WEEI Notes: The Orioles will start lefty Wei-Yin Chen in Sarasota and righthander Armando Galarraga in Fort Myers. ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia (left hip) and Jose Iglesias (right groin) are scheduled to get some at-bats in a minor league game in Fort Myers. ... There are likely to be some cuts after the game.

I wonder when the phrase "Yankee Universe" was coined? That sounds like a real marketing gimmick.

Carl Crawford took 15 controlled swings in the cage with both hands, the first time he has done that since developing inflammation in his surgically repaired left wrist and being shut down March 1. “I felt fine, no pain or anything,’’ said Crawford, who started throwing this week. Crawford’s program is being carefully monitored to avoid another setback. “It’s great to see,’’ Valentine said. “We’re totally controlling it. I’ve had too many meetings on it so far, that’s how many meetings I’ve had. Too many. So we’re going to control it and he gets it. It’s a designed program that he’s going to stick to.’’

Do you know him personally?

Didn't see that coming!

Red Sox make first round of cuts Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff March 16, 2012 12:39 PM FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox today optioned outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin and third baseman Will Middlebrooks to Triple-A Pawtucket and left-handed pitcher Drake Britton and second baseman Oscar Tejeda to Double-A Portland. Those players reassigned to minor league camp were RHPs Tony Pena Jr., Chorye Spoone and Alex Wilson and outfielder Juan Carlos Linares.

How long have you been a fan? All of my life, earliest memory is the 75 WS How did you become a Red Sox fan? My older brother Rico (nick-named after Rico Petrocelli) got me into them as a kid. Who is your favorite current Red Sox player? Pedroia, guess I'm being trite Who is your favorite all-time Red Sox player? Yaz and Varitek Who is your least favorite Red Sox player ever? Carl Everett What state/country do you live in (to see how spread out the fan base is here)? Virginia What is your favorite memory being a Red Sox fan? 2004 ALCS & WS; walking into Fenway Park for the first time When was the first time you ever went to Fenway Park? May 2006 Who is your least favorite Yankee player of all-time? A-Rod Any other comments that you would like to add? I wish I had gotten the baseball package prior to 2003. I look forward to watching every game and hate it when I have to miss one. Love the Red Sox!

Grapefruit League Game 11: Cardinals at Red Sox Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff March 15, 2012 09:30 AM Here are the lineups: RED SOX (7-2-1) Youkilis 3B Ellsbury CF Pedroia 2B Gonzalez 1B Ortiz DH Ross RF Lavarnway C McDonald LF Punto SS Pitching: RHP Alfredo Aceves, RHP Daniel Bard, RHP Matt Albers, LHP Justin Thomas.

I haven't touched base with Seano lately. But I know he wouldn't move to FL.

No doubt. McDonald continues to rake. The man has had a nice ST so far.

Mo struggling as usual...

Yes he is. Hopefully he is trying different stuff to see what works. His line is good. Time will tell.