Las Vegas Red Sox Nation

2010-06-27T18:37:00.000-07:00

This is going to be tough for a while.

2010-05-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

Classy act Roy Halladay last night threw a perfect game. Couldn't you almost expect something like this from him? If you look at his statistics you see he is an awesome player. He's won 2 out of 3 games with a 3.37 ERA, mostly for a cruddy Toronto team. 54 complete games? Nobody pitches complete games anymore. Plus he always has a real good attitude. What's not to like? Especially now that he's in the National League.

2010-05-22T05:09:00.000-07:00

These guys are supposed to be part of the best rotation in baseball. Instead they have been the most inconsistent in baseball. Hopefully they turn it around before the bats start slumping, as that would not be a good combination. Last in the AL with a 4.80 ERA? Last? Pitching coaches not doing their magic? Need more Varitek behind the plate?
These 3 guys make more than $39 million. That's more than the entire San Diego Padres. The Padres are tied for 1st. Jeez.

2010-05-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

Inconsistent. Not a good thing for a baseball team. Especially a high dollar, high profile one. Sweep, swept, sweep, what will happen today? Let's hope they get it together. Toronto, who they just swept, has been on a roll since, and coming tomorrow.

I thought they'd be better by now.

2010-05-02T04:40:00.000-07:00

One month is down, and it's not been a good one for Red Sox Nation. Beltre is the only everyday player with a batting average over .300. Pedroia is leading the team in home runs, but sub-par batting average. Buchholz has a respectable ERA, but is 2 and 2. Lackey is 2 and 1 despite an ERA double Buchholz'. I don't know what has happened to Beckett and Lester. Dice-K last night? I didn't expect the meltdown from Wakefield, but it happens. Just seems like it happened way too much last month. And defense? I thought they paid for good defense, what have we seen? Lots of unearned runs. An unprecedented bunch of outfield errors. This team, like the Dodgers, paid a lot of money, and expected a lot. Both are in epic fail mode. I hope Tito gets this group together.

2010-04-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

Once was the time, not long ago, when the Red Sox looked forward to playing the Rays. Gone are the times of the Devil Dogs. These past 3 seasons since their name change, and Manager Joe Maddon, things are much different. It's obvious that their scouting, farm system, and leadership is doing the right things. The Red Sox are in danger of getting swept in a 4 game series at home. Yikes. The Red Sox, trying to buy a team, like the Yankees, is going in the opposite direction. Their scouting and farm used to be envied by the league, and produced many good player, but now, what have they done? This home series has been a pathetic mix of terrible pitching and fielding. And where's the timely hitting? Not good.
It would be easier to take if it were a bunch of rookies. Like the Tampa Bay team.

2010-04-17T07:13:00.000-07:00

A bad base-running decision. Bad defense (only 1 error?!) Who takes the blame for last nights sloppy game? At least the pitching was what we had been hoping for. Our boys were supposed to get all of this out of their system during spring training.

2010-04-12T04:41:00.000-07:00

The Red Sox get to open a new field today. Target Field in Minneapolis, the newest ball park in the majors, opens today, after 28 years of indoor baseball, finally outdoor baseball on real grass, like it's supposed to be. Let's hope the weather is beautiful. The "small market" Twins are not looking that small, with the $412 million stadium, and paying $180 million to Joe Mauer. It's good to see that kind of investment, even more remarkable in these tight economic times.

2010-04-10T06:06:00.000-07:00

Is it any surprise to anybody that this man has the Captain's "C" on his chest? Does anybody wonder about team ERA without this guy? We know his hitting has deteriorated, but calling a game, there is none better. I'm not sure how I would handle it, but this guy needs to be involved more with the pitchers. No wins by starters, team ERA, blown saves by pretty good relievers? It wasn't chance that this guy has 4 no-hitters to his credit. (And a 5th, by Schilling's own admission, he shook off what should have been the last pitch of a no-hitter against the A's.) Send him out to the mound every now and then to calm down these guys, get them ready in the bull pen, something. We need his wisdom, now.

2010-04-03T06:21:00.000-07:00

This weeks Sports Illustrated has the Red Sox coming in 3rd in the division. I think that with one of the best rotations in the game, winning the division is not out of the realm of possibility, at least the wild card. Without a doubt, New York and Tampa Bay, on paper, have stronger lineups. And unless Ortiz and Beltre return to the form they had several years ago, there will be struggles to get the runs. But the real promise is the pitching and hopefully they have worked out the new pitches and kinks and are ready to start throwing some shutouts.

On another note, MLB's zeal for ratings has forsaken the traditional opening day, for opening night, first time ever, that I can think of. Put me on the list of people that still like days games better. Especially opening day.

Retiring as a Red Sox

2010-03-10T06:31:00.000-08:00

Former Red Sox Shortstop Nomar Garciaparra is apparently signing a 1 day contract, to retire as a Boston Red Sox. Former Rookie of the Year, and 6 time All-Star, career .313 hitter, a very popular guy, what's not to like? In a very unpopular move by Theo Epstein, traded away at the deadline of the 2004 championship winning season. Players on that team nonetheless voted to give Nomar a World Series ring, rightfully so. A class act, always.

Beckett and Martinez on same page.

2010-03-10T04:44:00.000-08:00

Beckett is looking sharp early on. He got along well with V-Mart last season and it looks like they're going to do well again this year. I still wonder how the catching rotation is going to shape up, with Varitek out and all. I like the prospects, and they need a shot. We seem to have good pitching, and where our offense seems a little weak, a good catcher is more important than ever.

Pap's contract year

2010-03-03T05:32:00.000-08:00

I fully expect to see good effort from Pap this year. It's a big contract year for him. But mark it, I will be surprised if he ain't a Yankee next year.

Focus...

2010-02-28T16:41:00.000-08:00

Now that the Olympics are over, and I have only minor curiosity in basketball, and my interest in hockey and NASCAR is casual at best, I am completely ready to devote my energy to baseball in general and the Red Sox in particular. I am concerned that Tito will have his hardest job yet as a manager, and Dave Madagan will have a hard time coaxing more than 30 home runs out of any of these guys. To change the subject, as the Dodgers are my NL team, how about Manny thinking about not accompanying the team on it's oriental trip? Manny being a Manny pain in the ass. At least he's not a Sox problem. What's this world coming to when the Red Sox have the pitching and the Dodgers have the hitters?

Don't feel sorry for Mike Lowell

2010-02-24T05:08:00.000-08:00

Mike Lowell says there's no need to feel sorry for him, he realizes that it's over in Boston, and this is business. He's a decent guy, there's no doubt. I'm glad he isn't going out kicking and screaming, being a jerk about it. That's because he's got class. And he's gonna get $12 million no matter what anyway.

Who's sluggin' for the Sox?

2010-02-15T19:15:00.000-08:00

Back in the day, Ted Williams, Yaz, Tony C., Jim Rice. Not anymore. Without Manny, Ortiz doesn't seem to have it. Beltre will probably never have a year like his last one with the Dodgers. This years Sox don't seem to have a true slugger of the sort that the Red Sox have always been known to have. Maybe Jermaine Dye would have been a better addition to the outfield than Mike Cameron. Good pitching may win pennants, but never underestimate the value of the 3-run home run. You know the Yankees don't.

NBC Olympic coverage Sucks

2010-02-14T07:34:00.000-08:00

NBC, in it's zeal for primetime ratings, is screwing us out of the real time drama that real sports fans want. Our choices are avoid all media and stay up until midnight to watch what NBC deems important, with zillions of commercials, or TIVO and watch the next day, with no commercials, but an even greater chance of finding out who wins before you can watch it. On Saturday we could have had real time Ski-jumping, but instead it came on after the results were known. I expect it will be like this for the remainder of the Olympics. Why is this the only sporting event done this way? Give it to us in real time, and put the highlights on in prime time if you must.

Truck Day

2010-02-12T18:43:00.001-08:00

It won't be long now

Claimed off waivers

2010-02-11T05:39:00.000-08:00

Gaby Hernandez, a 23-year-old righthander, was claimed off waivers from the Mariners yesterday and will report to spring training with the team next week.

To make room on the roster, the Sox designated righthander Robert Manuel for assignment. He was claimed off waivers from the Mariners in November.

“Decent scouting reports on him, and those reports pretty consistently indicate that if he’s ever available on the scrap heap to pick him up,’’ said Sox general manager Theo Epstein. “Given his age and the way his arm works and the advanced levels at which he pitched, he has a chance for some upside down the line.’’

Hernandez was 10-9 with a 5.23 ERA for Triple A Tacoma last season, allowing 158 hits and striking out 98 over 146 1/3 innings. Hernandez was 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in the last week of the season and undefeated in his final five starts.

Ellsbury vs. Cameron

2010-02-09T05:20:00.000-08:00

I like Mike Cameron, but really, Ellsbury is the future. Can we agree, the best years of 37 year old Cameron are probably behind him and that the best years of 26 year old Ellsbury are just ahead? We're not going to run into another situation where expensive experience (age) causes problems for (youthful) enthusiasm? We've got a lot of experience (age), and there is something to be said for that, but let's not forget that young talent needs to be taken advantage of. Let's not get stuck on Lowell, Varitek, and Wakefield, when so much young talent is available, and in good shape. There's no denying the contributions of our older players in the past, but let's not forget that young, healthy talent, when given a chance, will prove to be a more durable bunch of enthusiastic run producers than guys than some guys taking a roster spot that need to be on the DL. Can you imagine Lowell, Varitek, Wakefield, Cameron, and Drew all on the field against, say, Tampa Bay? It's possible.

Las Vegas Red Sox Nation: Schedule

2010-02-08T16:46:00.000-08:00

Las Vegas Red Sox Nation: Schedule

Schedule

2010-02-08T14:49:00.000-08:00

2010 Red Sox calendar - important dates

2/12 - Truck Day
2/14 - Truck Arrives in Fort Myers, FL.
2/18 - Pitchers and Catchers report
2/20 - Pitchers and Catchers first workout
3/2 - MLB: Mandatory Spring Training reporting date for all players.
3/3 - First Spring Training games; Split Squad vs. Boston-area colleges
3/4 - First reg Spring Training game vs. Minn. Twins
4/3 - Final Spring Training game at Washington Nationals

Today it's about football

2010-02-07T04:51:00.000-08:00

After all, I live in Las Vegas. I got the Saints +5 1/2 and over 57. As a New England fan I would have had a hard time picking the Colts anyway, but I think the Saints are going to cover a shootout.

Team Chemistry

2010-02-06T05:31:00.000-08:00

My hope, with all the new additions, is that the team chemistry turns out OK. Terry Francona will have to do an exceptional job this year to keep it from looking like the Sox of the 50's or the Yanks of a couple years ago.

Surplus of Infielders?

2010-02-06T05:29:00.000-08:00

Jed Lowrie Needs to Work His Way Back Onto Red Sox' Roster
Jed Lowrie was supposed to be the Red Sox' shortstop of the future. Now it's unclear if he even has a future in Boston.

After the 2008 season, it looked like Lowrie was well on his way to being the long-term answer at shortstop, something the Red Sox haven't had since Nomar Garciaparra was traded in 2004. Lowrie hit .258 with two home runs and 46 RBIs in 260 at-bats and played above-average defense at both shortstop (45 starts) and third base (22 starts).