A Red Sox Dynasty: 1995-????

[Moriarty9]

With Spring Training 2011 well under way, I figured I'd take a quick look at what some players of interest have done over their careers to date.

Jacoby Ellsbury, OF
Ellsbury has had some good seasons but nonetheless found himself spending much of 2010 with Fresno, the AAA affiliate of the San Francisco Giants - where he struggled mightily.
The speedy outfielder has a .293 average in his 447 big league games, picking up 491 hits, 99 doubles, 23 triples, 41 home runs, 286 runs, 200 RBI and 98 stolen bases.
Despite his success, Ellsbury has found himself without so much as a spring training invite and has been penciled in for Class A Modesto.

Dontrelle Willis, P
After nine years calling Dodger Stadium home, the D-Train has moved on down the tracks to San Francisco, signing a three-year deal worth more than $27.6 million. A six-time All Star, Willis went 149-74 with a 3.16 ERA in 298 starts with Los Angeles from 2002-2010. He hopes 2011 will bring him his eighth straight season with 15-plus wins. Willis has never won fewer than 14 games in a season and is coming off a 2010 campaign in which he went 18-13 with a 3.72 ERA and 197 strikeouts in 36 starts.
He has been a consistent and productive starter throughout his career.

Mark Ellis, 2B
The winner of the 2009 Gold Glove award, Ellis is a 10-year veteran who has spent most of his career with the Chicago White Sox but has also played for the Washington Nationals (77 games in 2006), Oakland Athletics (194 games in 2008-09) and most recently the Texas Rangers (225 games since 2009).
Ellis is a lifetime .265 hitter with 1,075 hits, 74 homers, 452 RBI and 518 runs in 1,197 games.

Felix Hernandez, P
King Felix has been a frustration for the Detroit Tigers as he has been inconsistent - at times showing brilliance and at other times being downright awful. Nonetheless, Hernandez has performed well enough to be a seven-year veteran and two-time All Star at the age of 24.
Hernandez has gone 74-66 with a 4.39 ERA in 195 career starts, twice winning as many as 15 games (2008, 2009) and twice posting an ERA below 4.38 (2009, 2010). His 2010 season was cut short with a back injury after going 4-7 with a 3.57 ERA in 12 starts.

Mike Lowell, 3B
Lowell started his big league career a little late, largely due to the depth of talent at the big league level in Boston at the time. The thirdbaseman debuted with the Red Sox in 2001 and spent four seasons in Boston before being traded to the Florida Marlins prior to the 2005 season. The Marlins dealt him to Los Angeles prior to the 2007 season, where he has remained since. Now 37, the 10-year-veteran is a .273 lifetime hitter with 1,069 hits, 121 home runs, 555 RBI and 529 runs.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B
A-Rod has had an impressive career thus far, though his 18th season with the Seattle Mariners may be a complete loss due to a ruptured medial collateral ligament suffered during a spring training game. Rodriguez is a lifetime .271 hitter with 2,185 hits, 431 home runs, 1,356 RBI, 1,312 runs and 163 stolen bases in 2,048 games.
At age 35, Rodriguez has seen his bat slow some in the last couple years - hitting .212 with 26 HR, 80 RBI in 129 games in 2008, .254 with 17 HR, 52 RBI in 100 games in 2009 and .235 with 28 HR, 83 RBI in 153 games in 2010.
A-Rod is a six-time Gold Glove winner and two-time All Star.

Brandon Webb, P
Webb has been honored with three All Star selections in his nine-year career with the Tampa Bay Rays, going 116-119 with a 4.06 ERA in 308 starts during that time. Like most players, Webb struggled in the first few seasons of his career but has been a solid pitcher in the last few years.
Webb went 15-10 with a 3.46 ERA in 33 starts with Tampa Bay last year.

Derek Jeter, SS
Jeter has very quietly put together an impressive career over the last 16 seasons with the New York Yankees (1995-2001), New York Mets (2001-2002) and Chicago White Sox (2003-present).
A career .308 hitter, he has amassed 2,314 hits, 168 homers, 953 RBI, 1,267 runs and 361 stolen bases in 1,820 games. Despite his success, Jeter has just three All Star selections and one Gold Glove (2010).
He has been hindered by a series of small, nagging injuries over the last several seasons, appearing in 100 games only three times in the last six years. He has never played in more than 149 games and has only topped the 140-games played mark three times in his career.

[Moriarty9]

Wright, Yanks agree on extension
All-Star in pinstripes through 2016
Sunday, April 10, 2011

NEW YORK - Yankees thirdbaseman David Wright signed a five-year contract extension today that will keep him in the Bronx through the 2016 season at an annual pay of $19.3 million.
Wright, 28, is a three-time All Star who would've been eligible for free agency at season's end. Though he could've signed a bigger contract elsewhere, Wright opted to stay with New York at the exact same annual salary his current contract stipulates he is paid for the 2011 season.
A nine-year veteran that has spent his entire career with the Yankees, Wright is a lifetime .305 hitter with 1,451 hits, 190 home runs, 804 RBI and 782 runs scored in 1,160 games. He had a down year in 2010, hitting .271 with 20 homers and 88 RBI in 148 games with the Bronx Bombers. So far this season, Wright is hitting .318 with no homers, four RBI and three runs in 22 at bats over five games for the 4-1 Yankees.

[Moriarty9]

Markakis traded to Detroit
All Star outfielder now a Tiger
Saturday, May 7, 2011

BOSTON - After three straight All Star selections, when Nick Markakis was called up to the baseball operations office at Fenway Park, he figured it had something to do with a possible contract extension. It wasn't.
Markakis was traded by the Boston Red Sox today, dealt to the Detroit Tigers for catcher Javier Ramirez.
Markakis, owed just less than $6.3 million this season, is arbitration eligible at season's end. In 25 games this season, he has hit .247 with two home runs and eight RBI. In his six-year career, the 27-year-old outfielder has hit .307 with 97 homers, 408 RBI and 413 runs.
Ramirez, 24, has little big league experience and is a slow runner but known as a good defensive catcher with an adequate bat for the position.
In 21 games this year, Ramirez has hit .262 with four RBI and seven runs over 65 at bats. In 53 games with Detroit over the last three seasons, the rookie catcher has hit .271 with one home run and eight RBI.
With the acquisition of Ramirez, Red Sox catcher Chris Iannetta is the most likely candidate to be sent down to the minor leagues, traded, released or otherwise designated for assignment.

[Moriarty9]

Boston bolsters bullpen with B.J.
Ryan, Iannetta change Sox
Sunday, May 8, 2011

BOSTON - Several hours after trading All Star outfielder Nick Markakis, the Red Sox made an early morning trade for two-time All Star reliever B.J. Ryan today.
Ryan had been lobbying for a trade out of Chicago, which the White Sox front office has now agreed to by dealing the lefty to Boston for catcher Chris Iannetta.
Ryan is in the final year of a two-year extension signed in 2009 and is owed $5.69 million this season. He had told Chicago media that he intended to file for free agency at season's end, although the Red Sox hope he will listen to offers to extend his trade now that he is with a different organization.
In eight appearances this season, Ryan has allowed two runs on nine hits and no walks, striking out seven in 8 2/3 innings. In his 14-year career, Ryan has gone 40-52 with 190 saves and a 3.44 ERA in 659 games out of the bullpen.
Iannetta found himself the odd man out after Boston acquired 24-year-old catcher Javier Ramirez from the Detroit Tigers last night. Iannetta, 28, hit just .135 with one home run and three RBI in 17 games with the Red Sox this season. In 133 games over his three-year career with Boston, Iannetta hit .229 with 11 homers and 55 RBI.
Iannetta is expected to platoon with Maximo Alfaro behind the plate in Chicago.

[Moriarty9]

Baylor fired by Angels
Los Angeles holds worst record
Monday, May 9, 2011

TORONTO - After a 9-23 start to the season, the Angels fired manager Don Baylor.
"It's the same old story," Baylor said after the announcement was made. "Managers are hired to be fired. I ain't the first and I won't be the last."
In his two-plus years at the helm of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Baylor guided the club to a 165-191 record, never finishing higher than third in the American League West.
He was hired by the Angels prior to the 2009 season after three losing seasons with the New York Mets.
In 16 seasons as a big league skipper, Baylor has posted a 1,152-1,301 record and has never led a team to the playoffs.
The team has not yet announced an interim manager so bench coach Hector Ruiz is expected to fill in until a decision is made by general manager Joe Martin. The team is wrapping up a four-game set in Toronto with the Blue Jays before heading to Chicago tomorrow for a three-game series.
Ruiz has seven years experience as a big league manager, most recently at the helm of the 2008 and 2009 Cleveland Indians. Ruiz has posted a 748-702 record over his career, winning the Wild Card in 2008 and consecutive American League West division championships with the 2002 and 2003 Seattle Mariners.

[Moriarty9]

Garcia to run Angels
Ruiz goes 0-1 as skipper
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

CHICAGO - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have hired 38-year-old Roberto Garcia as the team's interim manager for the remainder of the 2011 season.
Garcia replaces Don Baylor, who guided the team to a 9-23 start this season. Although he has no experience managing a professional baseball team, Garcia has four years experience in the college ranks. He managed the University of Connecticut Huskies for three seasons, posting an 83-63 record during that time. He most recently served as an interim manager for the Oregon State Beavers, going 10-23 during that time.

[Moriarty9]

Cota loses manager's job
Reds make change in dugout
Monday, June 16, 2011

CINCINNATI - When the Reds board a plane for Pittsburgh tonight, Orlando Cota will not be at the airport.
Cota, 52, was fired by the Cincinnati Reds today after going 16-22 in his first managerial job. The firing was a surprise as Cota was hired in the off-season, getting his first shot to run a big league team. The now former Reds manager did not return calls seeking comment.
Veteran minor league manager Bill Bell will take over the club and meet the team in Pittsburgh.
Bell, who had interviewed for the position in the off-season, was hired soon after Cota had reportedly received word of the decision. The Tampa Bay Rays will not receive compensation as they agreed to release Bell from his contract as manager of their AAA affiliate, the Durham Bulls. The Bulls have struggled to a 12-29 record so far this year.
In his 17 years as a minor league manager, Bell has won two championships, made the playoffs six times and posted a 1,065-1,056 record. He led the Colorado Springs Sky Sox from 1995-2004, making the playoffs three times - and winning a Pacific Coast League championship - with the AAA club. He tasted defeat during his two-year stint with the Salt Lake Bees in 2005 and 2006, going 108-152, before moving on to the Indianapolis Indians. In four years with the Indians, Bell went to the playoffs twice and guided the club to a championship in 2009.

[Moriarty9]

A quick look around the league as of May 17, 2011.

The Boston Red Sox once again lead the American League East, but by a narrow margin. The Red Sox, 24-15, are clinging to a 1 game lead over the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. The 17-21 Tampa Bay Rays sit 6 1/2 games back while the Baltimore Orioles bring up the rear, 10 1/5 games back, at 14-26.

In the AL Central, its a dog fight with three teams within a half game of one another. The Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals are tied for first place with the Minnesota Twins just a half game behind. The Detroit Tigers, 17-21, are 4 1/2 back while the Chicago White Sox are 5 1/2 out.

The Texas Rangers are co-owners of the best record in baseball (26-13) and hold a 7 game lead over the Seattle Mariners, 9 1/2 over the Oakland Athletics and 15 games over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - baseball's worst team at 11-28.

With tight races in the East and Central, its no surprise the Wild Card race is just as tight. The Yankees and Blue Jays are at the top of the Wild Card standings for the moment with the Indians and Royals 1 game back, the Twins 1/2 behind and the Mariners 4 games out.

In the National League East, the 23-15 Philadelphia Phillies are looking at a potential division crown with the Washington Nationals just 3 1/2 back and the Florida Marlins 4 games out. The Atlanta Braves, 17-22, are 6 1/2 out with the New York Mets 10 games back.

In the Central, the Houston Astros (co-owners of baseball's best record at 26-13) hold a tight 2 1/2 game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. The Milwaukee Brewers sit in third place at 19-19, 6 1/2 games behind the Astros, while the Chicago Cubs are 7 back, the Cincinnati Reds are 9 1/2 back and the Pittsburgh Pirates are 12 behind.

In the NL West, its a three-team race with two teams already all but out of contention already. The Los Angeles Dodgers have a half game advantage over the San Diego Padres and a 2 1/2 game lead over the San Francisco Giants. The 15-24 Arizona Diamondbacks are 10 games out while the Colorado Rockies sit 12 games behind the Dodgers.

In the Wild Card race, its the Padres on top by just 1 game over the Cardinals and 2 games over the Giants. The Nationals are 4 1/2 back.

Statistical leaders

Former Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez, now with the San Francisco Giants, has the best batting average in baseball at .385 through his first 130 at bats.
Philadelphia Phillies slugger Travis Hafner, owner of 366 career home runs, is baseball's home run leader to date. Hafner has hit 14 homers, putting him on pace for 60. There are five others with 12 home runs. He also leads baseball in runs scored with 32.
Hafner's teammate Josh Hamilton leads baseball in hits (55), RBI (40) and total bases (102) so far this year.
The biggest surprise of the yearhas got to be Kansas City Royals pitcher Robbie O'Brian, a 23-year-old lefty. O'Brian, acquired by trade in December, never put up terribly impressive numbers in the minor leagues (he twice won 9 games in the minors) and went 8-14 with a 4.58 ERA with the Arizona Diamondbacks last year. This year, however, O'Brian has blossomed and kicked off the year with a 5-1 record and 1.75 ERA in seven starts.
Aaron Harang of the San Diego Padres and Luke Prokopec of the Texas Rangers lead the majors in wins with seven, putting them on pace for 28. Harang is 7-2 with a 2.79 ERA in nine starts while Prokopec is 7-1 with a 3.18 ERA in nine starts. There are three pitchers with six wins.
On the flip side, Danny Haren of the Cincinnati Reds leads the bigs in losses with 7 (1-7, 3.81 ERA in 8 starts).
Jeremy Accardo of the Giants, Jesse Crain of the Twins and Joel Zumaya of the Astros, lead baseball in saves with 12 each.

[Moriarty9]

Boston bullpen bombs in Philly
Gallardo, Phillies top Sox 6-2
Friday, May 20, 2011

PHILADELPHIA - Interleague play is not off to a very good start for the Boston Red Sox as the team fell to the Phillies 6-2 tonight.
Scott Kazmir and Yovani Gallardo locked horns in an entertaining pitchers' duel only to see the Boston bullpen bumble through the eighth inning.
Kazmir was pulled after seven innings and 123 pitches, giving up just two runs on five hits and four walks, striking out eight Philadelphia hitters. Joba Chamberlain came on to open up the eighth inning with the two teams tied up at 2-2. Chamberlain threw just two pitches, the first resulting in a groundout and the second an infield single. B.J. Ryan was brought in to face Travis Buck, a left-handed hitter, but surrendered a single before giving way to Jonathan Papelbon as Dave Ross came on to pinch hit for the Phillies. Papelbon struck out Ross on three pitches and it appeared the Red Sox may go to the ninth inning with the game still tied. Augie Ojeda, a switch hitter, came on as a pinch hitter and hit a RBI single to give Philadelphia a 3-2 lead. Jose Mares then reached as Angel Fernandez scored on a Miguel Cabrera error at third base, making it 4-2 Phillies. Papelbon then hit Yunel Escobar before being replaced by southpaw Patrick Misch with left-handed hitter Travis Hafner and Josh Hamilton due. Hafner and Hamilton drew bases loaded walks, extending the lead to 6-2.
No player on either team had more than one hit in the contest, though Mares scored two runs.

[Moriarty9]

Delgado, Reds ink extension
Slugger may retire in Cincinnati
Thursday, May 27, 2011

CINCINNATI - Future Hall of Famer Carlos Delgado signed a two-year contract extension that may cover the 38-year-old's final seasons.
Delgado will be paid $17.21 million in 2012 and 2013 under the terms of the extension, sources said.
The Cincinnati Reds were eager to re-sign Delgado, a fan favorite that has yet to show any sign of dimished talent. In 46 games this year, Delgado has hit .293 with 8 home runs and 33 RBI, putting him on pace to club 28 homers and drive in 114 runs in 483 at bats.
He hit .282 with 25 homers and 102 RBI last season, his first with Cincinnati.
"I've enjoyed my time here with the Reds and I'd love to finish my career here," Delgado said. "I haven't decided if 2013 will be it or not, but its a possibility. We'll see how everything goes and take care of that decision down the road."
In his 19-year-career, Delgado - an eight-time All Star and winner of the 2000 MVP - has hit .291 with 2,610 hits, 496 doubles, 658 home runs and 1,996 RBI for the Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees and Reds.

[Moriarty9]

Misch out as BoSox closer
Kuo to take ball in ninth
Friday, May 27, 2011

BOSTON - Patrick Misch has lost his job as Red Sox closer after his third blown save of the season, second of the week.
Misch, a 29-year-old lefty, started the season strong, recording seven saves and posting a 1.32 ERA through May 11. Since then, however, he has gone 0-3, converting one out of three save opportunities and putting up a bloated 32.40 ERA in six appearances. As a result, Misch's season ERA is now up to 7.38 in 17 games.
In his place is fellow lefty Hong-Chih Kuo, a 29-year-old Taiwanese hurler. Kuo has gone 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA in 16 games, saving three games in four opportunities this year. A former closer with the St. Louis Cardinals (31 saves in 2005, 30 saves in 2009), the Asian import owns a 20-17 record with 82 saves and a 2.93 ERA in 380 lifetime appearances out of the bullpen. He went 4-0 with 6 saves and a 1.52 ERA in 50 games with Boston last season.
Although the move has been made, Red Sox manager Kevin Kennedy said Misch could return as closer later in the season.
"Given Pat's track record, we're most definitely not ready to close the book on him as a closer. Not remotely," Kennedy said. "He's going through a rough patch right now so we hope he'll be able to work through it as a set-up man for the time being while we ride the hot hand in Kuo as closer."
Misch said he was disappointed in the change but understood the decision.
"This team has great depth so when someone isn't doing their job, there's someone right there, ready to go and step up," Misch said. "H.C. knows how to close, B.J. [Ryan] knows how to close, [Manuel] Corp[as] knows how to close, and [Jonathan] Papelbon would probably be given that role on most other teams. Lately, I haven't done my job so they're gonna give it to someone else. It's a business, a performance-based business, so I understand."

[Moriarty9]

Johnson dealt to Royals for local prospect
Somerville's Mason assigned to Pawtucket
Saturday, May 28, 2011

BOSTON - Josh Johnson has found a new home with the Kansas City Royals as the Red Sox dealt the disgruntled pitcher for a 22-year-old prospect from Somerville.
Johnson, 27, had become bitter with Boston's front office as the organization and the pitcher came to a stalemate on sending Johnson to AAA Pawtucket for rehabilitation after a couple of injuries late in spring training. Johnson refused to pitch for the PawSox and was left on the disabled list while the team tried to persuade the hurler to accept the rehab assignment.
Johnson owns a 75-34 record and 3.99 ERA in 178 games with the Red Sox, 143 starts, over seven seasons. He went 11-9 with a 5.93 ERA in 31 games last year. His best season came in 2006 - his first full season in the rotation - when Johnson went 18-4 with a 3.71 ERA in 31 starts.
"I'm happy to be wearing Royals blue and to start a new chapter in my career," Johnson said by telephone today. "The Red Sox obviously didn't appreciate my talents so its best for me to move on. Fortunately, I've wound up in a place where we're a playoff contender, just a game or so behind the Indians."
With the success of the pitching staff, especially the starting rotation, the team decided it could afford to let Johnson go and found a suitor in Kansas City, who sent local pitching prospect Dave Mason to the Red Sox in return.
Mason had gone 4-3 with a 3.30 ERA in nine starts with the Royals. Prior to this season, Mason had worked through the Kansas City minor league system. In AAA last season, he went 13-4 with a 2.42 ERA and 189 strikeouts in 182 1/3 innings over 27 games, 26 of which were starts.
Mason pitched four innings against Boston in spring training but has not faced the club in regular season play. He will be assigned to AAA Pawtucket for the time being.
"It's exciting to end up with the organization you grew up watching," Mason said after the trade was announced. "I grew up watching these guys dominate the AL East every year and always wanted to be a piece of that. It's kind of surreal in a lot of ways. I can't imagine what it'll be like when I end up in Boston, wearing that Red Sox uniform at Fenway Park with family and friends in the stands."
Red Sox GM Shaun Moriarty said the trade was made because it made sense for the organization.
"Josh Johnson is a fine pitcher and we wish him the best of luck in Kansas City," he said. "However, it works out nicely for us. We get a local kid with tremendous upside and potential and we wipe $5 million off the books that can be used to try and retain some of the guys whose contracts are coming to and end this year."
Among the potential free agents are pitchers Scott Kazmir, Roy Oswalt, Manuel Corpas, Jonathan Papelbon and Hong-Chih Kuo, first baseman Conor Jackson, catcher Paul Lo Duca and outfielder Willy Taveras.

[Moriarty9]

Oswalt to stay in Boston
Lowe re-signs with Cubs
Sunday, May 29, 2011

BOSTON - The Red Sox and pitcher Roy Oswalt came to terms on a contract extension that will keep the hurler in town through at least 2013.
Oswalt, making $13.94 million this year, signed a two-year extension with an option for a third year.
He will make $15.5 million next season, $17 million in 2013, and, if the mutual option is vested, $19 million in 2014. There is a $600,000 bonus for winning the Cy Young Award.
Oswalt is 5-5 with a 3.70 ERA in 11 starts with the Red Sox thus far, coming off an 18-10, 3.09 ERA campaign last season. Since being traded to Boston in 2009, Oswalt has gone 30-17 with a 3.73 ERA in 56 starts. He owns a 169-136 lifetime record with a 3.59 ERA over his 12 year career.
In Chicago, former Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe has re-signed with the Cubs. Lowe, 37, will make $7.58 million annually over the life of the two-year extension. He has gone 4-5 with a 3.34 ERA in 10 starts this season and owns a 126-96 lifetime record with 103 saves and a 4.02 ERA over seven seasons with the Red Sox and seven with the Cubs.

[Moriarty9]

The following is an excerpt from the journal of Dave Mason, a 22-year-old pitching prospect from Somerville, Mass., that has just recently been acquired via trade by his hometown Boston Red Sox. Mason has been assigned to the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League, Boston's AAA affiliate.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

It's been a couple days since the trade and today I finally made my first trip to McCoy Stadium as a player. The team was still in Scranton, finishing off a three-game series with the Yankees. Since I had pitched just before the trade, the Red Sox gave me a couple days to get things in order for my move back home. They told me not to meet the club in Scranton but rather just wait until they came back to Pawtucket for a series with Norfolk. I'll be pitching the series opener tomorrow night. I have a lot of family and friends coming down to watch the game. Norfolk is a good team so I'll have my work cut out for me.
I've briefly talked to my new manager - Ken Stanton - over the phone but won't meet him until I arrive at the park tomorrow. Its his first year managing and he's kinda young - 42 years old - but he's got the team in first place.
I haven't been this nervous about a game in awhile. Hopefully I can use that nervous energy in my favor tomorrow on the mound.
Better try to get some sleep.

[Moriarty9]

Mason strong in Red Sox debut
Local kid done good
Monday, May 30, 2011

PAWTUCKET, RI - Dave Mason was nothing short of brilliant in his first start with the Red Sox as the 22-year-old pitcher picked up the win in a 1-0 pitchers' duel at McCoy Stadium.
Mason threw 7 1/3 shutout innings, giving up just three hits and one walk while striking out eight Norfolk hitters.
Mason appeared nervous on the mound and faced much of his adversity early, but was able to overcome it. After two quick outs to start the game, Tides first baseman Andres Cabrera singled to shallow left field. Mason, perhaps concentrating too much on the runner, threw a wild pitch, advancing Cabrera to second base. He then walked shortstop Jack Walker before coming back by striking out third baseman Johnny McCoy.
Mason was strong in the second, throwing just 11 pitches to retire the side in order with a pair of strikeouts.
He faced trouble once again in the third inning after hitting Laynce Nix with a pitch and giving up a single to center field by Cabrera before getting out of the inning unscaved.
The Red Sox scored their only run of the game in the home half of the third inning when Clinton Barber hit a RBI single to knock in Lorenzo Romero.
Mason returned to the mound in the fourth inning, working with a lead for the first time. He threw just 12 pitches that inning to record a flyball out, a popup and a groundout.
In the fifth inning, Mason gave up a two-out double to Gonzles but escapred unharmed, picking up two more strikeouts that inning.
Mason had his quickest inning in the sixth, throwing just four pitches to retire the side in order.
He returned to the mound in the seventh, throwing 15 pitches to pick up a strikeout, a flyout to center field and a ground out to second base.
Mason returned to the mound for the eighth inning and struck out Nix before being relieved by Ryan Speier after 107 pitches on the day.
Anastacio Martinez threw a 10-pitch 1-2-3 ninth inning to record his 12th save of the season for the PawSox.

[Moriarty9]

Kazmir extends stay in Boston
Lefty signs three-year deal
Wednesday, June 1, 2011

BOSTON - Red Sox starter Scott Kazmir signed a three-year contract extension today, keeping the talented southpaw in Boston through 2014.
Kazmir, 27, is 6-2 with a 3.15 ERA in 11 starts this year. He owns a 74-40 lifetime record with a 3.82 ERA in 170 games.
Currently earning less than $4.9 million this season, Kazmir will make $5 million next year, $5.69 million in 2013 and $6.25 million in 2014.

[Moriarty9]

The following is an excerpt from the journal of Dave Mason, a 22-year-old pitching prospect from Somerville, Mass., that has recently been acquired via trade by his hometown Boston Red Sox. Mason has been assigned to the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League, Boston's AAA affiliate.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

The good news is I went to 3-0 since joining the Red Sox last month. I pitched six innings tonight in Columbus, holding the Clippers to one run on six hits and two walks. I struck out seven and threw 107 pitches. The bullpen came on and did a great job, holding them to two meaningless hits in the last three innings of the game.
I'm pitching as well as I've ever pitched right now and it's exciting. The downside of it is even though I'm pitching pretty good, I don't see myself getting called up anytime soon because of the staff up in Boston. I'm sure I'll be up as a September call-up but I'd sure like a chance to prove myself before then. But for now I just have to concentrate on what I'm doing down here and get ready for Syracuse next week.
In some ways, being close to home has become a little difficult because its actually made it more difficult not to see Kate. She's been great about the whole being away for several months of the year thing, but she knew that was the way it'd be when I got that phone call I had been drafted.
It was difficult enough when I was in Kansas City with the Royals, because I knew I'd only be in Boston once and then there'd be the All Star Break so unless she was going to fly out to wherever we were playing, I wasn't going to see her. But now that I'm in Pawtucket, it's somehow more difficult because I can see her so much more often but it just doesn't always work out that way. And some of these road trips are tough because now I'm a little spoiled, I'm used to spending some more time with her than I would have if the Royals didn't trade me. It's a weird little catch 22. Right now we're on the road but we go home for three games with Richmond Saturday, Sunday and Monday only to be in Syracuse on Tuesday, New Orleans on Friday and then back to Pawtucket for three games before we go back on the road again. It's a crazy part of the schedule, but we'll get through it. We have some longer homestands next month to look forward to.

[Moriarty9]

Sox top Rangers
Kazmir pitches out of jams
Friday, June 10, 2011

BOSTON - Red Sox pitcher Scott Kazmir improved to 8-2 on the season with an 8-2 victory over the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park.
Kazmir gave up two runs on eight hits and five walks over eight innings, striking out seven Texas hitters en route to victory.
While Kazmir held down the Rangers offense, Boston's lineup took advantage of just about every scoring opportunity presented them.
Conor Jackson went 3-for-4, Grady Sizemore went 2-for-4 with a double, run and a RBI. Miguel Cabrera went 1-for-4 with a double, a run and two RBI.
Mark Prior was charged with six runs on eight hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings for the Rangers.
With the win, the Red Sox improve to 36-26 and remain a half game behind the Yankees. With the loss, the Rangers fall to 37-25 but remain 7 1/2 games ahead of Seattle in the AL West.

[Moriarty9]

While watching the Red Sox-Orioles game on tv tonight, I've decided to catch up with some of the names and faces in the ballgame and see how they've done in this dynasty.

Adam Jones, OF
Jones had a brief and unremarkable big league career, appearing in 240 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2006-2009. Jones debuted with the Pirates in 2006, hitting .118 with one RBI in 51 at bats over 55 games. He hit a career-high .208 with the Pirates over 53 games in 2007. In 2008, Jones' appeared in 122 games but had just 216 at bats, hitting .185 and belting out the only two homers of his career. In 2009 he hit .167 in 12 at bats.
He retired prior to the current 2011 season with a .179 career average, 2 home runs and 16 RBI.

Josh Beckett, P
Beckett has been a frustration for the Baltimore Orioles over his 11-year-career, posting a lifetime 117-129 record and recording a 4.51 ERA in 345 starts. Beckett has been, at times, brilliant and has had several successful seasons (15-5, 3.25 ERA in 2003; 15-6, 2.60 in 2004) but has also been downright awful in other seasons (6-17, 6.40 ERA in 2009).
So far in 2011, Beckett has gone 2-5 with a 5.52 ERA in 13 starts with the Orioles - the only team he has played for.
A two-time All Star, Beckett signed a two-year extension prior to the 2011 season that will pay him $2.01 million annually in 2012 and 2013.

Coco Crisp, OF
Crisp has had few true opportunities at the big league level - though he did perform adequately to well during those opportunities - and is currently in the St. Louis Cardinals' farm system.
Crisp, 31, is a .278 hitter with 37 homers, 204 RBI, 252 runs and 46 steals in 657 games over nine big league seasons. He last appeared in the big leagues in 2009 with the Cardinals, hitting .158 with one RBI over 19 at bats in 21 games.
Crisp's finest seasons came in 2004-2006, when he was a regular at the big league level with the Padres and Cardinals. In 2004, he hit .322 with 10 HR and 56 RBI; .317 with 8 HR, 45 RBI in 138 games in 2005; and .256 with 15 HR, 65 RBI in 2006.
In 56 games with AAA Memphis so far this year, Crisp is hitting .246 with two homers and 17 RBI.

Freddie Bynum, 2B
Bynum had a short big league career, appearing in 422 games for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 2005-2008. His finest big league season was his last, 2008, when he hit .323 with 5 triples, 16 homers, 56 RBI, 56 runs and 21 steals in 27 attempts in 365 at bats over 121 games.
Bynum was traded by Tampa Bay to the Orioles for reliever Duaner Sanchez (19-24, 21 Sv, 4.24 ERA in 368 career appearances; 1-1, 2 Sv, 5.01 ERA in 26 games with Arizona this year) but never played with Baltimore at the big league level. Bynum retired prior to the 2011 season.

Brian Roberts, 2B
Roberts has spent his entire 10-year big league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, though he is currently assigned to AAA Indianapolis.
Roberts owns a lifetime .274 average with 60 homers, 436 RBI, 565 runs and 1,085 hits in 1,205 games. An All Star in 2006 (.306, 44 2B, 14 3B, 12 HR, 67 RBI, 108 R, 38 SB), he has hit .224 with a homer and 8 RBI in 43 games with the Pirates in 2011 before being sent down to Indianapolis.

Daniel Cabrera, P
Cabrera has been a marginal pitcher throughout most of his career, although he was a Cy Young candidate with the Pirates in 2009 after going 18-6 with a 2.86 ERA in 32 games.
That proved to be an abberation as Cabrera's next best season was 2006 with the Milwaukee Brewers when he went 11-12 with a 4.17 ERA in 34 games.
He has gone 54-66 with a 4.70 ERA in 191 starts over his eight-year career. Thus far in 2011, Cabrera has gone 3-5 with a 4.64 ERA in 13 starts.

Alex Cora, 3B
Cora has been a serviceable substitute player for the Philadelphia Phillies for much of his 13-year-career.
A lifetime .251 hitter with 20 homers and 120 RBI in 572 games during that time, he has hit .278 with 5 homers and 20 RBI in 97 at bats with the Phillies so far this season.

Luke Scott, OF
Winner of the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year with the Milwaukee Brewers (.315, 50 2B, 22 HR, 99 RBI, 117 R, 22 SB), Scott has put together a nice career with a .270 average, 94 HR, 431 RBI and 484 runs in 951 games with the Brewers and Diamondbacks.
In 58 games with Arizona this year, Scott has hit .255 with with four homers and 22 RBI as the #3 hitter and leftfielder.

Nick Markakis, OF
Winner of the 2007 AL Rookie of the Year with Boston (.300, 25 HR, 95 RBI, 110 R, 27 SB), Markakis is a three-time All Star and owns a World Series ring in his six-year career so far.
He is a lifetime .308 hitter with 101 homers and 425 RBI in 688 games.
Markakis was traded to the Tigers by Boston earlier this season for catcher Julio Ramirez (.291, 4 HR, 23 RBI in 49 games). He had been hitting .247 with two homers and 8 RBI in 25 games with Boston before the trade, .348 with four homers and 17 RBI in 31 games with the Tigers since as the team's cleanup hitter.

[Moriarty9]

Papelbon punished by Nats
Reliever hit with loss
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

BOSTON - The Washington Nationals were the victors in the final game of a three-game Interleague matchup in a 4-2 contest at Fenway Park.
Jon Lester, given the start against the Nationals, pitched well but watched as his his successor, Jonathan Papelbon, gave up two runs almost immediately after entering the ballgame.
Lester had pitched well for six innings, giving up two runs on six hits and four walks with 10 strikeouts, but left the game in a 2-2 tie after throwing 124 pitches. Papelbon came on to open up the seventh inning but let up a leadoff double to Jim Barnes, which was followed by a RBI single from Ryan Zimmerman. DH Manuel Hernandez then singled before pinch-hitter Prince Fielder grounded out, leaving two men in scoring position as Papelbon was lifted for lefty B.J. Ryan.
Ryan induced a groundout from Alex Sanchez that allowed Zimmerman to score and extend the Washington lead to 4-2.
The Nationals bullpen was phenomenal, as four relievers combined for four no-hit innings with one walk and one strikeout. Ryan also pitched well, throwing two perfect innings and striking out three.
Barnes went 3-for-4 in the contest while Zimmerman and Hernandez picked up two hits each. No Red Sox player had more than one hit in the ballgame although Kemp drove in both Boston runs with a sacrifice fly and a double.
The Red Sox are off tomorrow as they await the Philadelphia Phillies, who will come to town for a three-game series before the New York Mets come to Boston on Tuesday.