Have The Red Sox Gotten Too Big For Their Britches?
By Administrator | July 29, 2010
I have gotten used to the Red Sox treating “bloggers” with contempt and disdain… now comes word that the minor league affiliates are following suit.
For the entire time I have maintained a website, the Red Sox have ignored any and all requests I have made for access and assistance. Even when I asked for contact information for a couple of agents (to solicit assistance from players with a charitable endeavor) the response was: if it doesn’t help the Red Sox Foundation, we won’t help out. Not even with a phone number to assist in raising money for ALS (the supposed charity of Major League Baseball!!). Can you imagine that?
Earlier this week we learned the Red Sox have lost 1/3 of their radio and television audience… so you might think they would be desirous of securing additional media coverage. Not so. On the heals of the disastrous news about their listening and viewing audience, I’ve been advised the team will no longer make their minor league prospects available for “bloggers” to interview.
In spite of the fact the traditional media is ever-shrinking and the non-traditional media continues to expand by leaps and bounds, the Red Sox have determined to ignore the non-traditional media and focus on the traditional media — the media outlets where they might be able to control and / or influence content.
For the last three years I have provided almost daily coverage of the PawSox, Sea Dogs and Salem Sox… but because I am not “connected to a regular media outlet” I will no longer be granted access to the prospects. Imagine that! If Fox Sports ignores the PawSox or Sea Dogs — which they usually do — but all of a sudden decides they want to interview Ryan Kalish, they are welcome to do so. But if “a blogger” like me, who until recently covered the three teams almost every single day, wants to interview him, we are SOL.
So you will notice that I have stopped providing coverage of the minor league affiliates because they do not perceive that they “receive much benefit” from coverage provided by bloggers. No kidding, folks, that is what one of the clubs has told me!!
Which leads me to my final topic for today… after 8 years of daily posting - usually as few as 4 or 5 articles daily (except when I am on vacation) and oft-times as many as a dozen postings daily - I will be ceasing daily posting on this website effective immediately. The site will remain up and I’ll post a couple of topics a week… but if putting 4 or 5 hours a day into the site is not considered of value to the Red Sox organization, then I’ll spend that time with my wife who, thankfully, still craves every single minute we spend together.
It is time for me to get my priorities straight.
I have enjoyed doing this daily and thank all of you for reading my site. Since I started SOX1FAN.com back in 2004 I have had nearly 12 million hits… and I thank you for your loyalty. But it is time for me to turn the page… I’ll still be here, but just a lot less often… and WITHOUT prospect interviews!!!
Topics: Miscellaneous | 5 Comments »
A Night With The Sanford Mainers
By Administrator | July 28, 2010
I went to Sanford, Maine, tonight to visit one of my oldest and dearest friends and his family. After enjoying dinner with Tom, his wife Joanne, and two of their three children, I headed over to Goodall Park to watch my first New England Collegiate Baseball League game - between the Sanford Mainers and the Lowell All-Americans. Tom and his son, Peter, served as my chaperones.
I was actually quite surprised to find the ballpark filled to capacity on a weeknight. The ballpark, which seats approximately 800 fans, was teeming with fathers and mothers and sons and daughters. As with most semi-pro and minor league facilities, the ballclub ran promotions almost every half inning and sold raffle tickets… I happened to win the 50-50 raffle (and $153 that went along with having the winning ticket).
The Mainers lost the game in 14 innings, but that was never the point of the evening. I got to enjoy an evening with my dear friend and his son at the ballpark… it was a great evening!
My friend, Tom, and his son, Peter
The Mainers mascot, Kenny the Bear
Mainers pitcher, Shane Davis, from Canisius
Topics: Around Baseball | No Comments »
Coverage From Around The Nation: July 28, 2010
By Administrator | July 28, 2010
Lackey return stellar (In spite of a chilly reception from the Los Angeles fans, John Lackey turned in a red-hot performance for the Red Sox in a 4-2 win late last night… Boston.com article)
John Lackey outduels former understudy Jeff Weaver (Lackey beats his former team in his first start in Los Angeles since leaving the Angels… Boston Herald article)
Pedroia is jolted by news on his foot (Dustin Pedroia had hoped to be back in uniform a bit sooner than originally projected… yesterday he talked with the doctor and those hopes were dashed. Boston.com article)
Jonathan Papelbon shifts gear into overdrive (Closer Jonathan Papelbon is enjoying perhaps the finest stretch of his career… Boston Herald article)
Maturity has led McDonald to security (Darnell McDonald has proven to everyone, including himself, that he belongs in the big leagues… Providence Journal article)
Sox ailing on airwaves, too (The Red Sox find themselves struggling on the field and on the airwaves. While Red Sox Nation has enjoyed the run of the last several years, the pink hats are finding other things to do as the team struggles… Boston.com article)
So it seems like Lowell is ready (Mike Lowell hit three home runs during his rehab appearance on Monday night… it remains to be seen whether it will help buy him a ticket out of Boston… Boston.com article)
A trip to see Sox’ ship (Even Dan Shaughnessey finds reason for hope in the Red Sox current predicament… Boston.com article)
Topics: Sox Games, Sox Players | No Comments »
This Day In Red Sox History: July 28, 1979
By Administrator | July 28, 2010
In Arlington, TX, Dennis Eckersley outdueled Ferguson Jenkins, 1-0… in the game, the Sox pulled off a triple play in the first inning, their third triple play of the season (May 10th, July 23rd).
Material for This Day In Red Sox History is drawn from Bill Nowlin’s “Day by Day with the Boston Red Sox”
Topics: Sox History, Sox Players | No Comments »
This Day In Baseball History: July 28th
By Administrator | July 28, 2010
In 1962, after mysteriously disappearing off the team bus in New York two days earlier with teammate Gene Conley, prodigal infielder Pumpsie Green returned to the Red Sox and was fined.
In 1971, Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson, a sixteen-time gold glove winner, committed three errors… but thanks to Frank Robinson’s ninth inning three-run walk-off home run off Rollie Fingers, the Orioles beat the A’s, 3-2.
In 1976, White Sox pitchers John Odom (5 innings) and Francisco Barrios (4 innings) combined to no-hit the A’s, 2-1.
In 1983, American League president Lee MacPhail decided George Brett’s ‘Pine Tar’ home run should count… the remainder of the game would be played on August 18th, with the Royals beating the Yankees, 5-4.
In 1985, the Hall of Fame inducted Lou Brock, Enos Slaughter, Arky Vaughan and Hoyt Wilhelm as members… Wilhelm was the first pitcher to be inducted because of his role as a relief pitcher.
In 1991, Dennis Martinez of the Expos pitched a perfect game defeating Los Angeles 2-0 at Dodger Stadium. Ron Hassey became the first backstop to ever catch two perfect games, as he also was behind the plate on May, 15, 1981 when pitcher Indian hurler Len Barker beat the Blue Jays, 3-0.
In 1993, Mariners CF Ken Griffey Jr. homered in his eighth straight game to tie a major league record held by Dale Long (1956) and Don Mattingly (1987).
In 1994, Texas Rangers southpaw Kenny Rogers pitched a perfect game in a 4-0 win over California.
In 1999, the US baseball team beat the world champion Cubans for the first time in twelve years, scoring five runs in the ninth inning for a 10-5 victory at the Pan American Games.
In 2002, during his induction speech at the Hall of Fame ceremonies in Cooperstown, with the song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” playing in the background and a copy of “The Wizard of Oz” grasped in his hands, Ozzie Smith compared his baseball career to Dorothy’s trip from Kansas.
In 2004, LAA closer Troy Percival became the 18th major league reliever to record 300 saves.
In 2007, with the help of a pair of day-night doubleheaders, MLB established a new daily attendance record as 717,478 go through the turnstiles for the 17 games played… the former mark of 640,412 was set in the same number of games on July 3, 1999.
Born Today: Vida Blue (1949), Derek Lee (1966), Wilson Betemit (1980)
Topics: MLB History | No Comments »
This Day In Red Sox History: July 27, 1975
By Administrator | July 27, 2010
Southpaw Bill Lee shut out the NY Yankees and Catfish Hunter, 1-0, in Game One of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium… Fireballer Rogelio Moret turned the trick in the nightcap, beating Tippy Martinez and the Yanks, 6-0.
Material for This Day In Red Sox History is drawn from Bill Nowlin’s “Day by Day with the Boston Red Sox”
Topics: Sox History, Sox Players | No Comments »
This Day In Baseball History: July 27th
By Administrator | July 27, 2010
In 1927, Mel Ott, just 18 years old, hit his first Major League home run, an inside-the-park round-tripper… it was the only inside-the-park job of his 511 career homers.
In 1928, at Chicago’s Comiskey Park, A’s outfielder Ty Cobb started for the last time in a regular season game… the 41-year old ‘Georgia Peach’ singled and doubled before he was hit in the chest with a pitch and left the game… he was hitting .332.
In 1938, Hank Greenberg hit two home runs in a game for the second consecutive day… the Tigers first baseman would accomplish this feat a record-setting eleven times during the season.
In 1966, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overruled a lower court decision and held that the state didn’t have the jurisdiction to keep the Braves from moving to Atlanta.
In 1984, Pete Rose passed Ty Cobb as the all-time singles leader… Rose collected his 3,053rd safety off Steve Carlton in a 6-1 Expo victory over the Phillies.
In 1998, Wade Boggs’ eighth inning single moved him past Babe Ruth into 33rd place on the career hits list with 2,874.
In 2000, the Rockies and Red Sox completed a seven-player trade… the Red Sox received pitchers Rolando Arrojo and Rick Croushore, infielder Mike Lansing and cash in exchange for second baseman Jeff Frye and pitchers Brian Rose and John Wasdin, as well as minor league pitcher Jeff Taglienti.
In 2008, Oakland reliever Brad Ziegler set a major league record by pitching 27 innings without allowing a run from the start of his career.
In 2009, Washington OF Josh Willingham became just the 13th major leaguer to hit two grand slams in the same game, pacing the Nationals to a 14-6 victory over Milwaukee at Miller Park.
Born Today: Ray Boone (1923), Bump Wills (1952), Alex Rodriguez (1975)
Topics: MLB History | No Comments »
Coverage From Around The Nation: July 26, 2010
By Administrator | July 26, 2010
Hesitation pitcher (Hideki Okajima’s indecision on an 8th inning bunt contributes to Red Sox 4-2 loss in Seattle… Boston.com article)
Recap: Mariners 4, Red Sox 2 (Scott Lauber has more on yesterday’s loss to the hapless Mariners… Boston Herald article)
Sox must find relief for weak spot in ’pen (Pig pile on Hideki Okajima — and deservedly so… Boston Herald article)
Okajima helps give one away (Peter Abraham continues to pile on Okajima… Boston.com article)
Matsuzaka can’t control when he’s lifted (Though Dice-K allowed only one run in yesterday’s outing, the fact he needed 110 pitches to get through six innings meant Terry Francona had to rely on his bullpen… Boston.com article)
Red Sox bats running on empty (Scott Lauber’s notebook is full of criticism for the Red Sox offense while virtually ignoring the injuries that have befallen the club… Boston Herald article)
Sox not using injuries as a crutch (Dan Barbarisi’s column is far better conceived than the previous piece by Scott Lauber… Providence Journal article)
Help arrives, with a catch (Victor Martinez will likely be activated from the DL for tonight’s game in Los Angeles, but just how much he’ll catch this week - and when - remains up in the air… Boston.com article)
Fantasy sports: Still concern with Lackey (Josh Bousquet provides a pedestrian overview of John Lackey’s perfromance in terms of fantasy league baseball. This piece will not satisfy the sabermetricians out there… Worcester Telegram article)
Topics: Sox Front Office, Sox Games, Sox Players | No Comments »
This Day In Red Sox History: July 26, 1964
By Administrator | July 26, 2010
Tony Conigliaro hit a home run in the first game of a doubleheader in Cleveland… his right forearm was shattered by a Pedro Ramos fastball in Game Two.
Material for This Day In Red Sox History is drawn from Bill Nowlin’s “Day by Day with the Boston Red Sox”
Topics: Sox History, Sox Players | No Comments »
This Day in Baseball History: July 26th
By Administrator | July 26, 2010
In 1900, a Brooklyn sheriff seized the St. Louis share of gate receipts to reimburse Gus Weyhing, a player released by the Cardinals who claimed to have been cheated out of ten days of pay.
In 1948, The Bambino made his final public appearance at the New York premiere of “The Babe Ruth Story”…. The Sultan of Swat would die three weeks later.
In 1957, Mickey Mantle hit his 200th career home run… off future HOFer Jim Bunning.
In 1962, Braves’ hurler Warren Spahn homered off Craig Anderson of the Mets to set the National League record for round trippers hit by a pitcher… it was his 31st career home run.
In 1962, Red Sox pitcher Gene Conley and infielder Pumpsie Green mysteriously disappeared after leaving the team bus in traffic to use the bathroom. Later in the day, Conley was refused a ticket at the airport to fly to Israel because he didn’t have a visa.
In 1984, Pete Rose singled for the 3,052nd time… tying him Ty Cobb on the all-time career singles list.
In 1998, Don Sutton and Larry Doby were inducted into the Hall of Fame along with Lee MacPhail, George Davis and Joe Rogan. MacPhail joined his dad, Larry, to become the first father and son to be enshrined at Cooperstown.
In 2000, the Phillies traded their ace, Curt Schilling, to Arizona for first baseman-outfielder Travis Lee and pitchers Omar Daal, Vicente Padilla and Nelson Figueroa.
In 2005, Greg Maddux became the 13th pitcher in baseball history to register 3,000 strikeouts.
Born Today: Ellis Kinder (1914), Hoyt Wilhelm (1923), Joaquin Benoit (1979)
Topics: MLB History | No Comments »
