Friday, May 25, 2012

Avery Bradley's postseason is over


ESPN Boston:  WALTHAM, Mass. -- Celtics second-year shooting guard Avery Bradley will undergo surgery Friday to repair small tears in his left shoulder and miss the remainder of the postseason.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said the surgery will be performed by team doctor Brian McKeon. The Celtics play host to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Saturday (ABC, 8 p.m. ET).
"It's disappointing," Rivers said of losing Bradley. "Obviously when a player goes down, that's disappointing, especially on what Avery has given us this year. His growth this year has been terrific, and it's been great, and he's become a very valuable piece to our basketball team."
A league source told ESPNBoston.com on Thursday that Bradley is looking at a four-month rehab, and that the team hopes he will be able to participate in training camp.
Rivers acknowledged the weight of losing Bradley, particularly on the defensive end and, according to ESPN Stats & Information, his absence will take away the Celtics' best five-man lineup this postseason: When Bradley, Rajon RondoPaul PierceBrandon Bass and Kevin Garnett have been on the court together, the Celtics have outscored opponents by 53 points. Their next best lineup has outscored opponents by only 18 points (Ray Allen, Garnett, Pierce, Rondo and Mickael Pietrus).
Jasper's thoughts:  "Tough to loose Bradley, he was the center of a lot of the Celtics' defensive punch, and he was great on offense as well."

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Red Sox 6, Orioles 5


BALTIMORE -- Daniel Nava and Kelly Shoppach hit sixth-inning homers to turn a tie game in Boston's favor, and the Red Sox withstood two home runs by Nick Johnson in a 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.
Scott Podsednik also homered for the Red Sox, who climbed back to .500 (22-22) with their 10th win in 13 games. Boston took two of three from the Orioles, who were seeking to win a fourth straight series against the Red Sox for the first time since 1960.
It was 2-all in the sixth before Nava, the No. 7 hitter in the order, drove a 2-0 pitch from Jake Arreita (2-5) over the right-field wall. Podsednik followed with a single, and No. 9 hitter Shoppach greeted Luis Ayala with a drive to left.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Red Sox swat four homers, halt Phils' win streak


redsox.com:  PHILADELPHIA -- Citizens Bank Park has long played like an American League park, and the Red Sox hit four more home runs Saturday in a 7-5 win over the Phillies. That gave Boston seven through the first two games of the series, which the teams have split.
"We're a good-hitting team," said catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who singled, doubled and homered a night after receiving 12 stitches in his left ear. "They're a really good pitching staff. It can go either way just as easy as that. We swung the bats well and didn't miss any pitches and just kept going."
They can play some National League-ball, too, those Red Sox. They turned in some of their finest defensive work of the season, even with their regular designated hitter at first base and their first baseman at right field.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Oh Darn! Red Sox drop 17-inning marathon


redsox.com:  BOSTON -- By the end of a wild Sunday at Fenway Park, the Red Sox were simply out of pitchers. So position player Darnell McDonald tried to act like one and give his team an uplifting end to a tough homestand.
Darnell McDonald
It was not to be. Adam Jones belted a three-run homer off McDonald -- the ninth pitcher of the day for Boston -- lifting Baltimore to a 9-6 victory in 17 innings.
Fenway Park, which is celebrating birthday No. 100 this season, has probably never seen a game quite like this.
The teams combined to use 18 pitchers, a Fenway record. Not only was a position player (McDonald) the losing pitcher, but a position player (Chris Davis) was the winning pitcher. Davis became the first American League position player to win a game since Rocky Colavito did so for the Yankees in 1968.  By Ian Browne / MLB.com
Jasper's thoughts:  "Well this was a tough loss, you would always like to take the rubber game of the series, especially when you're trying to avoid a sweep.  when Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine put in Darnell McDonald as a pitcher, you knew that he wasn't worried about getting the win.  There was no point in putting a starter in the game at that point, because it would screw up the rotation for the rest of the week, and maybe beyond that.  McDonald was not a very good pitcher to say the least."

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Mariano: 'I'm not going down like this'


Mariano Rivera
yankees.com:  KANSAS CITY -- Hold the music on "Exit Sandman." Mariano Rivera's right knee injury may be season-ending, but he vows it will not end his career.
Rivera, the game's all-time saves leader, tore the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his right knee on Thursday. He said on Friday that he plans to do everything in his power to come back for another season.
"I'm coming back," Rivera said. "Write it down in big letters. I'm not going down like this. God willing and given the strength, I'm coming back." By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
Jasper's thoughts:  "I think that is really tough for both the Yankees and Mo.  I have tremendous respect for Mariano Rivera, and I am sad to see his season end like this."

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Cook to start Saturday in place of Beckett


redsox.com:  BOSTON -- The Red Sox aren't letting right-hander Aaron Cook leave the organization.
On the day Cook could choose to request his release, Sox manager Bobby Valentine said Wednesday that Cook will make his first big league appearance of the year on Saturday as a starter, in place of Josh Beckett, who has lat tightness.
Valentine didn't say which side was bothering Beckett during his WEEI radio interview.  By Evan Drellich / MLB.com
Jasper's thoughts:  "It's smart to give Cook a chance as a starter.  Bobby V. needs to give im a chance, he's done very well at AAA, and of one of our starters gets hurt, Cook is our next best starter.  For that reason, we wouldn't want him opting out of his contract."

Red Sox promote top prospect Middlebrooks


Will Middlebrooks
redsox.com:  BOSTON -- Boston's top prospect has been called up to the Majors and will make his Fenway Park debut Wednesday night.
Will Middlebrooks, a 23-year-old third baseman with power, was added to the 25-man roster on Wednesday, manager Bobby Valentine said during his weekly radio spot with WEEI in Boston. Kevin Youkilis, the team's regular at the hot corner and a Red Sox mainstay, has not played in the past three games because of back tightness.
Lars Anderson was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room on the roster. Middlebrooks will be in the starting lineup Wednesday for the Red Sox, who will face the A's in the rubber match of a three-game series at 7:10 p.m. ET.   By Evan Drellich / MLB.com
Jasper's thoughts:  "The Sox are going to need Middlebrooks down the stretch.  Youk has been having   bad injury problems lately, and if those continue, The veteran third basemen could be traded by the deadline."