The Red Sox have been on a role recently, and their recent winning streak has brought their record to nearly .500. Here are two players who have played a surprisingly key role in the Sox's resurgence.
Andrew Miller- The former first round pick moved to the bullpen this year, and he has shined thusfar. In eight innings, he has yet to allow an earned run. going 1-0 with 10 strikeouts. Miller has always had talent; it has just been a question of harnessing that talent. It seems that he may have finally found his calling in the bullpen. If he can keep up his recent form, it would greatly improve the Sox's bullpen.
Will Middlebrooks- Remember when I said that he was a prospect to watch? That prediction has proved eerilycorrect, as Middlebrooks has exploded onto the big league scene, hitting .297 with 5 home runs and 16 RBIs, all while playing great third base. His play has some Red Sox fans calling for Kevin Youkilis to be traded.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
Sox Lose Thriller
The Red Sox lost yesterday to the Baltimore Orioles in rather embarrassing fashion, going down 7-6 in 16 innings. Chris Davis, the Orioles' DH, went 0-8. but pitched 2 scoreless innings for the win. The Sox were out of relievers as well, so Darnell McDonald pitched, allowing 3 runs in one innning and getting the loss. Adrian Gonzales went 0-8, continuing his cold streak at the plate. Clay Buchholz also struggled, allowing five runs on three homers in 3 and 2/3 innings. Will Middlebrooks provided a bright spot, hitting a grand slam and playing good defense.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Middlebrooks Debuts
Last night against the A's, Will Middlebrooks made his season debut, starting at 3rd Base in place of the injured Kevin Youkilis. Middlebrooks was impressive, going 2-3 with a double and a stolen base while batting in the 8 spot. His performance wasn't enough though, adn the Sox were defeated 4-2, with Daniel Bard getting hit with the loss.
Sox Sign Prior
The Boston Red Sox made a move to strengthen their rotation by signing former cubs pitcher Mark Prior.
Prior was expected to be a star early in his career, but injuries derailed his career. He showed what he was capable of while healthy in 2003, winning 18 games and coming third in Cy Young voting. Prior hasn't pitched in the majors since 2006, when he went 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA. Since then, he has tried to catch on with the Padres, Rangers, and Yankees. Ben Cherington, the Red Sox GM, was quoted as saying, "We're going to leave him down there for a while just to build strength before we send him out to a minor league club. He signed a minor league deal and will keep pitching in extended for a while." Prior will likely be sent to Triple-A, where he has thrown just two innings since 2006.
Prior was expected to be a star early in his career, but injuries derailed his career. He showed what he was capable of while healthy in 2003, winning 18 games and coming third in Cy Young voting. Prior hasn't pitched in the majors since 2006, when he went 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA. Since then, he has tried to catch on with the Padres, Rangers, and Yankees. Ben Cherington, the Red Sox GM, was quoted as saying, "We're going to leave him down there for a while just to build strength before we send him out to a minor league club. He signed a minor league deal and will keep pitching in extended for a while." Prior will likely be sent to Triple-A, where he has thrown just two innings since 2006.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Red Sox Update
Will Middlebrooks was officially added to the Red Sox roster to replace Kevin Youkilis, who was placed on the 15-day DL due to back issues. it had previously been unclear if Middlebrooks would be added to the roster.
Due to stiffness in his right leg, Josh Beckett will miss his next start. Aaron Cook, called up today, will take his place. Cook struggled in the majors last year, going 3-10 with a 6.03 ERA. This will be the first time seeing Cook for many Sox fans, and expectations are high.
Former top prospect Lars Anderson was sent back to Triple-A. Originally called up to add pop to the lineup, Anderson had little impact in his short stay. Clayton Mortensen, the reliever acquired over the winter for shortstop Marco Scutaro, was called up in his place. Mortensen was 2-2 with a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings for Pawtucket.
Due to stiffness in his right leg, Josh Beckett will miss his next start. Aaron Cook, called up today, will take his place. Cook struggled in the majors last year, going 3-10 with a 6.03 ERA. This will be the first time seeing Cook for many Sox fans, and expectations are high.
Former top prospect Lars Anderson was sent back to Triple-A. Originally called up to add pop to the lineup, Anderson had little impact in his short stay. Clayton Mortensen, the reliever acquired over the winter for shortstop Marco Scutaro, was called up in his place. Mortensen was 2-2 with a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings for Pawtucket.
Minor League Update
The Red Sox recently called up Jose Iglesias, Will Middlebrooks, and Aaron Cook from the minor leagues. Here are the players that could be called up next:
Daisuke Matsuzaka, Double-A, Portland Sea Dogs- The perennially disappointing Matsuzaka looked strong in his last rehab start, going 4 2/3 innings, striking out 7, walking 2, and allowing three hits. He looked fully recovered from his Tommy John Surgery, and his fastball reached as high as 93 MPH. The only downside was his high pitch count of 74. Matsuzaka has struggled with walks and high pitch counts in the past. With the Red Sox rotation struggling, he looks like a viable option if Aaron Cook fails.
Ryan Lavarnway, Triple-A, Pawtucket Red Sox- Many Sox fans had hoped that Lavarnway would start the year in the majors, but management felt that the catcher wasn't ready defensively for the majors. So far, this worry has proved correct, as Lavarnway has struggled at both the plate and in the field, hitting just .260. Still, it is expected that he will turn things around, and with only Jarrod Saltalamachia and Kelly Shoppach blocking his way in the majors, it wouldn't be surprising if Lavarnway finds his way back to the majors by the end of the year.
Mar Melancon, Triple-A, Pawtucket Red Sox- Melancon, originally expected to be the set-up man this year, but he imploded in just 4 games, going 0-2 with an ERA of 49.50 before being sent down to the minors. Since coming to Pawtucket, he has settled down, throwing 4 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out 8. If he continues at this pace, the Red Sox might decide to give him another shot.
Junichi Tazawa, Triple-A, Pawtucket- Tazawa- aka the Japanese guy who isn't Dice-K- has yet to allow a run in either Triple-A or the Majors. once Youkilis gets healthy and Iglesias reurns to Pawtucket, Tazawa will certainly be called up, barring some sort of Melancon-esque collapse.
Justin Thomas, Triple-A, Pawtucket- Thomas is yet another pitcher who has spent time in both the minors and the majors this season. The lefty specialist struggled with the Sox, putting up an unimpressive 7.71 ERA in 4 2/3 innings. If Rich Hill pitches poorly, Thomas will likely be the man to take over the lefty specialist role.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, Double-A, Portland Sea Dogs- The perennially disappointing Matsuzaka looked strong in his last rehab start, going 4 2/3 innings, striking out 7, walking 2, and allowing three hits. He looked fully recovered from his Tommy John Surgery, and his fastball reached as high as 93 MPH. The only downside was his high pitch count of 74. Matsuzaka has struggled with walks and high pitch counts in the past. With the Red Sox rotation struggling, he looks like a viable option if Aaron Cook fails.
Ryan Lavarnway, Triple-A, Pawtucket Red Sox- Many Sox fans had hoped that Lavarnway would start the year in the majors, but management felt that the catcher wasn't ready defensively for the majors. So far, this worry has proved correct, as Lavarnway has struggled at both the plate and in the field, hitting just .260. Still, it is expected that he will turn things around, and with only Jarrod Saltalamachia and Kelly Shoppach blocking his way in the majors, it wouldn't be surprising if Lavarnway finds his way back to the majors by the end of the year.
Mar Melancon, Triple-A, Pawtucket Red Sox- Melancon, originally expected to be the set-up man this year, but he imploded in just 4 games, going 0-2 with an ERA of 49.50 before being sent down to the minors. Since coming to Pawtucket, he has settled down, throwing 4 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out 8. If he continues at this pace, the Red Sox might decide to give him another shot.
Junichi Tazawa, Triple-A, Pawtucket- Tazawa- aka the Japanese guy who isn't Dice-K- has yet to allow a run in either Triple-A or the Majors. once Youkilis gets healthy and Iglesias reurns to Pawtucket, Tazawa will certainly be called up, barring some sort of Melancon-esque collapse.
Justin Thomas, Triple-A, Pawtucket- Thomas is yet another pitcher who has spent time in both the minors and the majors this season. The lefty specialist struggled with the Sox, putting up an unimpressive 7.71 ERA in 4 2/3 innings. If Rich Hill pitches poorly, Thomas will likely be the man to take over the lefty specialist role.
Red Sox News
After a slow start to the season, the Red Sox is starting to heat up. A recent five-game winning streak helped bring their record to 11-12.
Kevin Youkilis has missed the past few games due to back issues, prompting the Red Sox to call up top prospect Jose Iglesias. Iglesias was struggling at the plate in Triple-A, hitting just .200. but his defense continues to impress, justifying his call-up. To make room for Iglesias, the Red Sox sent Junichi Tazawa down to the minor leagues, despite the fact that Tazawa has yet to allow an earned run this year. According to the Worcester Telegraph and Gazette, Bobby Valentine said that the decision was, “not based on his (Tazawa's) performance. It was based on his contract. He's one of the few players we are allowed to move back and forth.”
According to WEEI.com, the Red Sox have called up the sinkerballing righthander Aaron Cook today. Cook, who is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in Triple-A, had opted out of his contract, giving the Red Sox 48 hours to either call him up to the majors or let him go. Boston chose the former, as many had expected them to do. Cook is expected to be placed in the starting rotation, which has struggled thusfar, although he can also come out of the bullpen. It has not yet been announced who will be sent to make room for him.
According to Maureen Mullen of CSNNE.com, Will Middlebrooks is joining the team in Boston, although he has not yet officially been added to the roster. Middlebrooks, a third baseman, is considered one of the top prospects in the orginization, and he has lived up to that billing so far this year, hitting .333 with 9 home runs and 27 RBIs in Pawtucket.
Kevin Youkilis has missed the past few games due to back issues, prompting the Red Sox to call up top prospect Jose Iglesias. Iglesias was struggling at the plate in Triple-A, hitting just .200. but his defense continues to impress, justifying his call-up. To make room for Iglesias, the Red Sox sent Junichi Tazawa down to the minor leagues, despite the fact that Tazawa has yet to allow an earned run this year. According to the Worcester Telegraph and Gazette, Bobby Valentine said that the decision was, “not based on his (Tazawa's) performance. It was based on his contract. He's one of the few players we are allowed to move back and forth.”
According to WEEI.com, the Red Sox have called up the sinkerballing righthander Aaron Cook today. Cook, who is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in Triple-A, had opted out of his contract, giving the Red Sox 48 hours to either call him up to the majors or let him go. Boston chose the former, as many had expected them to do. Cook is expected to be placed in the starting rotation, which has struggled thusfar, although he can also come out of the bullpen. It has not yet been announced who will be sent to make room for him.
According to Maureen Mullen of CSNNE.com, Will Middlebrooks is joining the team in Boston, although he has not yet officially been added to the roster. Middlebrooks, a third baseman, is considered one of the top prospects in the orginization, and he has lived up to that billing so far this year, hitting .333 with 9 home runs and 27 RBIs in Pawtucket.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Welcome to the Blog!
This blog is for the DS Journalism class. Posts should come about once a week, and the topics will range from the MLB to Politics (in case you couldn't tell from the title).
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