http://wbztv.com/rocheen-USSat, 17 May 2008 19:33:21 GMT5http://wbztv.com/roche
They've had a tough go of it lately, but fret not Sox fans as the Boys of Summer return home.

The Sox just went through a very strange 10-game road swing where they went 4-6. It was one of those..."what can go wrong, will go wrong" trips.

Injuries? You got'em. Manny (hamstring), Drew (wrist), Lugo (concussion), Coco (headaches, etc), Buchholz (finger, DL), Case (return from injury), Cora (also returned from injury), and the manager (funeral, missed 3 games).

You can certainly be concerned about the bullpen as Hideki Okajima continues to struggle with inherited runners. However, that was bound to happen as he has been so good for so long. You hope Timlin, Delcarmen, Hansen, Aardsma, and Mr. Papelbon will all settle down.

You knew there were going to be down times, didn't you? I mean, after all, that it what baseball is all about. Streaks.

A 4-6 trip is not the end of the world and now the Sox are back in town.

They will be just fine.
]]>http://wbztv.com/rocheThu, 15 May 2008 15:31:51 GMThttp://wbztv.com/roche
I thought he would be gone in the off-season. He thought he would be gone in the off-season.

During the Sox 2007 postseason run I had many talks with Julian Tavarez about his future. He wanted to start, period.

He never, ever had a problem with taking the ball. He always wanted to pitch and the more he did that...the better he was. Start? Sure. Middle relieve? No problem. Close? He'd welcome it. Pitch every day? He'd try.

That's one of the things I'll miss about Tavarez after he was designated for assignment by the Sox on Monday afternoon.

He was a gamer. He was that rare, "Just give me the ball" kind of guy. No fear. A throwback.

Yeah, he was quirky. He rolled the ball to first on a comebacker to the mound. He would walk by and offer you a power shake drink occasionally.

He had a passion. He loved to pitch. Loved the game. He was a competitor.

One day during the playoffs last season I asked Josh Beckett who his all-time favorite teammate was. The answer? Julian Tavarez. How about that?

I will miss him and I wish him well in the future.
]]>http://wbztv.com/rocheMon, 12 May 2008 22:39:38 GMThttp://wbztv.com/roche
A big day for Curt Schilling and Red Sox fans Tuesday as Schilling plays catch from 60 feet. It's the first time he'll be throwing since the off-season when he had to shut it down.

This is a huge day, make no mistake. You can say all you want, but, we know how good Schilling is in the postseason. Even if he can come back for September to get ready for the postseason, it's big for this team.

My "gut feelings" have me thinking Schilling wasn't going to be able to pitch in 2008. Let's hope that's not the case.

We'll know more in the next 24 hours.

Email Dan your questions and comments]]>http://wbztv.com/rocheTue, 06 May 2008 13:26:28 GMThttp://wbztv.com/roche
You can't go wrong with either pick, David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez in their prime? Who would you take?

That's the question I put out there for debate and thanks for all the great responses. That's the beauty of sports. Debate.

Let's take a quick look on this rather than dissect a difficult loss Wednesday night in Detroit.

Manny's best season arguably came in 1999. That year he hit .333 with 44 HR, 165 RBI, 34 doubles, and 131 runs scored. His OPS was 1.105.

David's best season arguably was 2005 when he hit .300 with 47 HR, 148 RBI, 40 doubles, and 119 runs scored. His OPS was 1.001.

On pure numbers it's hard not to side with Manny Ramirez. After all, he's been ridiculously consistent throughout his career and the 11-time All-Star will be in Cooperstown five years after he retires. David has had five tremendous seasons in Boston, where he finally got a chance to play every day. However, Ortiz won't make the HOF unless he produces 5-6 more seasons like that of his 2003 through 2007 campaigns.

The one big advantage I think David has over Manny is time and time again, David has produced with the game on the line. Remember back to 2003, 2004??? It was incredible how many big hits he had in those postseasons. Manny has had his share as well, but I give David the edge.

Of course, Manny also plays the field, but this debate started based on the question, "Who would you take as a hitter in their absolute prime?".

I will take Ortiz, but I can't come up with much if you fire back at me with Manny.

Email Dan your questions and comments]]>http://wbztv.com/rocheThu, 08 May 2008 14:41:44 GMThttp://wbztv.com/roche
Hi Gang. Had a discussion at my son's baseball game this past weekend over the following question:

If you could have one hitter...in their prime, at the very top of their game...which would you take...David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez?

Both have been big RBI guys which is my number-1 criteria. Both have been clutch. Both can hit for average, etc..

So which would you choose?

Take a look at Manny's career numbers.

Then compare them to Big Papi's.

Would love to hear from you.....

Email Dan your questions and comments]]>http://wbztv.com/rocheWed, 07 May 2008 15:49:30 GMThttp://wbztv.com/roche
WBZ radio's Jonny Miller reports from Detroit that Sox right-hander Curt Schilling threw for the first time this season as part of his rehab from a shoulder/bicep injury.

Schilling threw 25 times from 60 feet in what was basically a game of catch with Sox pitching coach John Farrell.

Miller reports Schilling and Farrell were interrupted 2 or 3 times by someone mowing the infield grass at Comerica Park.

He is scheduled to throw again on Thursday.

Schilling has shut the arm down since having problems throwing in January. He wanted to undergo biceps surgery at the urging of his doctor, Craig Morgan while the Sox and Dr. Thomas Gill prescribed "rest and rehab". He ended up following the orders of the Sox.

The Sox hope to have Schilling available at some point this season, perhaps as soon as the All-Star break.

Schilling enters the season as the winngest pitcher in the history of the postseason as he is 10-2 with a 2.23 ERA.]]>http://wbztv.com/rocheTue, 06 May 2008 20:46:58 GMThttp://wbztv.com/roche
It's exactly how Terry Francona envisioned it when he was thinking about his team in the off-season.

I'm sure he wrote it down many times during his vacations, charity functions, and other down times. After all, I still remember at the Boston Baseball Writers Dinner in January of 2007, Tito and John Farrell jotting down possible starting rotations on a napkin as the night proceeded.

Ellsbury lead-off, Pedroia in the two hole.

That's the deadly combination.

This past weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays, that dynamic duo atop the order was lights out.

Friday, a combined 4-for-8, with 2 runs, 2 walks, 4 RBI, and a stolen base in Boston's 7-3 victory.

Saturday, 5-for-9 with 4 runs scored, plus a walk and an RBI in the Sox 12-4 romp.

Sunday, 2-for-8 with 3 runs scored, 2 walks, an RBI, and 3 stolen bases in Boston's 7-3 win.

The duo scored 9 of the Sox 26 weekend runs. That's what you want out of the top two spots in any line-up. You get that, you're in great shape. They were also on base 16 times. Pretty good stuff.

Ellsbury has the speed and on-base ability to be an ideal lead-off hitter while Pedroia can do it all with the bat. He's also the ultimate sparkplug and can bat either lead-off or second with ease.

Now, this won't be the way it goes every day, but I think this is what Francona wants. Ellsbury-Pedroia. Those two names should bode well for a potent summer line-up no matter who bats behind them.

Email Dan your questions and comments]]>http://wbztv.com/rocheMon, 05 May 2008 13:09:47 GMThttp://wbztv.com/roche
The Red Sox bats are extremely quiet these days around the ballpark. Funny how the phrase "hitting is contagious" does indeed ring true at times around a team. And now it's the opposite for Boston.

The Sox had a 7-game homestand April 18th through the 24th where they averaged 6.57 runs per game and 11.57 hits.

Meanwhile, since last Saturday, the Sox have scored a total of 4 runs(0.8 per game) while getting only 23 hits(4.6 per game). Fortunately, they've received some masterful pitching performances over those five games to only go 2-3.

And now, the first place(tied with the Sox) Tampa Bay Devil Rays come to town this weekend for a three game set. Edwin Jackson, James Shields, and Scott Kazmir.

Those match-ups look tough, don't they?

Ah. but again, the beauty of the game....maybe the Sox bats explode??
]]>http://wbztv.com/rocheFri, 02 May 2008 02:33:19 GMThttp://wbztv.com/roche
If you missed Wednesday night's Red Sox-Blue Jays game, you missed another gem.

Daisuke Matsuzaka and Dustin McGowan hooked up in another dandy of a pitching duel. Great stuff. However, all you need to know about the game came in the final two plays, which were a continuation of Tuesday's Sox walk-off win.

First, Brandon Moss singles up the middle with pinch-runner Jed Lowrie on second base in the bottom of the ninth of a 1-1 tie. Looks like same play as Tuesday night....game over, right? Wrong. Vernon Wells comes up gunning...makes a perfect throw to catcher Rod Barajas, who blocks the plate with Jason Varitek-like precision and prevents Lowrie from scoring.

Ouch.

Next play. Same thing...almost. Varitek rips the single to center and Wells scoops it up again. However, this time "Speed Manny" beats the throw and the Sox do indeed notch their second straight "walk-off win".

That my friends is the beauty of baseball. We've seen the same exact play three straight times with the game on the line. Twice it favors Boston and once Toronto. How cool is that?

Email Dan your questions and comments]]>http://wbztv.com/rocheThu, 01 May 2008 12:22:21 GMThttp://wbztv.com/roche
Dee wrote in an e-mail, "Yes, we had an exploratory meeting last Friday with Sarasota City & County officials. They approached us several days after the Reds announced their move to Goodyear, Az. We view this as part of our ongoing due diligence examining what our spring training needs will be over the next 5, 10 & 15 years. Discussions continue with Lee County as well. We have a termination clause in our lease with Lee County after 2009."

The Red Sox have held their Spring Training in Fort Myers since 1993.

Meanwhile, they trained in Sarasota from 1933-1942 and then again from 1946-1958. ]]>http://wbztv.com/rocheWed, 30 Apr 2008 22:34:21 GMT